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Reducing lost workdays after work-related injuries: the utilization of athletic trainers in a health system
Matthew C Larson1, Colleen M Renier, Brian K Konowalchuk
1Occupational Medicine, SMDC Medical Center, Duluth Clinic, Duluth, MN, USA. mlarson@empi.com
Objective:
To determine if an internal employee health program (IEHP), including transitional work, with early access to physical medicine and rehabilitation provided by athletic trainers, will reduce missed workdays following work-related injury.
Methods:
A retrospective review of health system workers' compensation data were conducted for injuries sustained 23-month period preceding (PP) (N = 713) and following IEHP implementation (N = 661).
Results:
Sixty-two PP and 128 IEHP events resulted in lost workdays (LWDs), P < 0.001. For LWDs events, mean days lost decreased from 100.3 ± 119.7 PP to 44.6 ± 69.0 IEHP, P = 0.001, with 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-4.2) IEHP 3-week odds of returning to work.
Conclusions:
Internal employee health program reduced LWDs. Internal employee health program was associated with more than 10% increase in LWDs events, but LWDs event mean days lost decreased by more than 50%, with 3-week odds of returning to work more than 2.0.
