Return to work experience of injured workers in a case management program

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Health services research

Background:

• Timely return to work is a key goal of case management.
• Limited research exists on injured workers' return-to-work experiences.
• This study focuses on workers with catastrophic injuries or complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the return-to-work experience from the injured worker's perspective.
• To identify factors influencing return to work for severely injured employees.
• To understand outcomes related to service satisfaction and work reintegration.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of case management evaluation data.
• Focus on workers with catastrophic injuries and subsequent complications.
• Examination of structural and process factors affecting return to work.

Main Results:

• Structural factors (e.g., psychosocial aspects, finances, system navigation) significantly impact return to work.
• Process factors (e.g., interactions with providers and the workers' compensation system) are crucial.
• Worker satisfaction with services and return to work are key outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the injured worker's perspective is vital for effective case management.
• Addressing both structural and process factors can improve return-to-work outcomes.
• Improving interactions within the workers' compensation system is essential for successful reintegration.