As many Americans recover from the devastation from the two recent hurricanes, it’s important to ensure workers stay safe and healthy. Many people are engaged in cleanup and rebuilding efforts both at home and at work, and are likely engaged in tasks that are not part of their normal daily routines. This can cause a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, as they use muscles they normally don’t and may find themselves in awkward physical positions.

More than half of American adults face “unpleasant and potentially hazardous” working conditions. Almost three-quarters spend at least one-fourth of their work time in “intense or repetitive physical labor.”

“Early referral for outpatient rehabilitation may reduce the utilization of health services that carry greater risks or costs in those with nontraumatic knee pain.”

A new return-to-work study glaringly illustrates some of the problems with getting quick, appropriate medical care to injured workers. It also shows a substantial percentage of injured workers are not being shown how to do their jobs safely to prevent reinjury.

A new outcomes registry may lead to improved care for injured workers. At least, it’s a step in the right direction.

The workforce is definitely aging, and that can be great for employers. These workers typically are extremely loyal, dedicated to quality, and can serve as mentors to younger workers with less expertise and experience. To get the most benefit from older workers, companies need to make sure they stay safe and healthy. Understanding some of the unique factors involved in the aging process can help protect these workers, and make sure they get the most appropriate treatment when they are injured.

I am honored to join Dr. Teresa Bartlett, Senior VP for Medical Quality at Sedgwick, and Michael Coupland, CEO and Network Medical Director of Integrated Medical Case Solutions for a session at the Self Insurance Institute of America’s annual National Educational Conference & Expo in October. In the session, Medical Services on Demand: a Look at New Delivery Models, we will explore news ways to deliver medical care to injured workers as quickly as possible.

The workers’ compensation system was among the first groups to identify and target opioid abuse among patients with chronic pain. Because workers’ compensation is administered on the state level, many legislative initiatives have been implemented within various states. One that has gained increasing attention of late is the use of prescription drug monitoring programs, or PDMPs.