No longer alone

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Primary Care Medicine
• Rehabilitation Services

Background:

• Workplace absenteeism due to illness presents significant individual and societal challenges.
• Swedish healthcare regions mandated coordinated rehabilitation processes since 2020.
• This complex system involves medical and occupational stakeholders, with physicians and coordinators central to its function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore primary care physicians' perceptions of their role and collaboration with rehabilitation coordinators.
• To understand the impact of rehabilitation coordinators on the sick-listing and rehabilitation process from the physician's perspective.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• Interviews conducted with nine primary care physicians in the Skåne healthcare region.
• Data analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• A central theme identified was the rehabilitation coordinator as an "external and internal connecting point" improving the process.
• Physicians reported relief from workload, practical clinic support, and increased patient security.
• Coordinators were perceived as sufficiently trained, with potential for expanded responsibilities.

Conclusions:

• Close collaboration with rehabilitation coordinators positively impacts primary care physicians, reducing feelings of isolation.
• Rehabilitation coordinators are key in insurance medicine tasks, with potential for a more proactive role.
• Physicians value the support and improved patient outcomes facilitated by rehabilitation coordinators.