Return to Work Services

Many workplace injuries result from cumulative strain, and sometimes symptoms develop long before the employee goes off work or a compensation claim is submitted. Early referral can assist in identifying the source of the problem and provide recommendations to prevent an injury from progressing. This results in a better long-term health outcome for the employee, whilst potentially saving the employer thousands of dollars in premium costs and lost time injuries.

Early intervention services may include:

• Workplace assessment to identify relevant risk factors, job modifications, functional education, suitable duties, etc.
• Medical case conference
• Liaison with treatment providers
• Development of a return to work plan

Ergosmart will customise services to meet individual needs, so please feel free to call us and discuss your requirements.

Ergosmart Consulting provides case management services for employees who sustain workplace injuries resulting in time off work or restrictions in work capacity. The case management process aims to support an employee to recover at work and achieve a sustainable return to pre-injury capacity with the same employer.  Services include:

• A detailed assessment of the employee’s injury, capacity and functional job requirements
• Identification of suitable duties that will facilitate recovery at work
• Addressing any potential barriers or risks to a employee’s recovery (e.g. education regarding safe work practices and/or job modification)
• Development and monitoring of a Return to Work Plan in consultation with the injured employee, employer and treating doctor.
• Liaison with all parties involved in an employee’s rehabilitation to ensure a timely and safe return to work
• In the event an employee is unable to achieve their pre-injury level of capacity, options for suitable employment are assessed with the aim of achieving a sustainable return to work goal with the same employer.

Navigating the workers’ compensation system can be a daunting process for some.  We aim to make the process easier for all stakeholders through our experience, professionalism, customised approach and communication.

Ergosmart can provide a one-off service to develop a Return to Work (‘RTW’) Plan for an injured worker (that the employer then monitors ongoing).  This may apply for work related injuries or non-work related injuries/conditions.  The service includes:

• A workplace assessment to ascertain the worker’s injury, capacity and functional job requirements
• Liaison with the worker, employer and treating parties to confirm the RTW goal
• Compilation of a RTW Plan in consultation with all parties
• In some cases, a medical case conference is useful to discuss and confirm the RTW plan

Ergosmart Consulting can provide workplace assessments as a one-off service.  The purpose may vary, including:

• Assessing the functional requirements of a pre-injury role or suitable employment as part of a RTW program and documenting these requirements for the benefit of treating parties
• Assessing suitable duties as part of a graded RTW Plan to correlate with medical capacity
• Providing advice on modifications to work practices, equipment, ergonomics, etc. to support an employee to return to or remain at work without risk of injury/aggravation

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (‘FCE’) is an objective assessment of an individual’s physical capacity for work.  It is customised to incorporate a range of physical tasks relevant to the person’s critical job requirements.

A FCE can be used for work related injuries, non-work related injuries or as part of a pre-employment screening process.

FCE’s provide useful information to assist with:

• Quantifying the individual’s capacity in relation to specific job demands
• Facilitating progression of a return to work program
• Providing objective information that can be used as part of a Work Capacity Assessment
• Matching an injured employee to suitable employment
• Providing an employer with practical information about what an employee can and can’t safely do, instead of relying solely on what the treating doctor or employee thinks they can do. This information can be provided to the treating doctor if applicable
• Preventing injury or aggravation by identifying work activities that may be high risk for an individual
• Assisting employers to meet their duty of care in providing a safe workplace and appropriate duties consistent with an employee’s physical capacity
• Providing reassurance to an employee of their actual capacity
• Providing feedback to an employee in relation to their manual handling techniques

The treating doctor acts as the primary contact for treatment and recovery information for employers, insurers and other parties involved in the management of an injury.  Medical case conferencing is, therefore, an important part of a person’s recovery to ensure return to work planning takes into account all medical recommendations, parties work collaboratively and rehabilitation is successful.  Ergosmart Consulting provides a valuable link between the treating doctor, employee and workplace by communicating the relevant job demands, clarifying strategies to overcome barriers, agreeing an on appropriate return to work goal and providing support for recovery.  Case conferencing always occurs with the injured employee and either the Nominated Treating Doctor or Treating Specialist. Where applicable, other parties may be involved in the conferencing (e.g. other treatment provider or employer).