Back before World War II, Henry Kaiser created on-site clinics for his shipyard and steel mill workers. The clinics served two purposes. They focused on delivering occupational therapy to injured workers. But they also promoted work site safety. These clinics eventually morphed into today’s healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente.

Over the years, other large companies have copied Kaiser’s on-site physical therapy model. They hoped this approach would save money over sending injured workers to off-site health clinics. And perhaps get injured workers back on the job sooner. Even the most safety-conscious employers suffer workers' compensation claims. Would a permanent PT clinic at your workplace improve your workers’ comp experience? Let’s look at the pros and cons of permanent on-site clinics.

Advantages of Permanent On-Site Physical Therapy Clinics

1. A permanent clinic is always there. Any time an injured worker needs attention, the clinic is open for business. So it’s easier for workers to set a physical therapy schedule. And easier to comply with it, because they don’t have to travel to an off-site health clinic for therapy sessions. When injured workers stick to their PT schedule, they can recover faster.
2. Cost savings. Avoiding travel to and from offsite health clinics saves employers money – on travel and time associated with those appointments.
3. Better results. With a permanent clinic, the on-site physical therapist can arrange one-on-one sessions with each patient. They can devote 100% of their time to that patient. That improves quality of care. And it helps speed recovery and return to work.
4. Better employee engagement. Light-duty workers don’t have to leave your premises to go to a health clinic. (And you can only hope that’s what they’re doing, with off-site appointments.) Instead, PT sessions are just a short walk away. Light duty workers remain on the job and engaged with the company and their co-workers. That improves morale. And improved morale motivates a stronger commitment to recovery.
5. Better integration with RTW programs. A permanent work site PT clinic automatically becomes part of your company-wide return to work procedures. You can incorporate safety and injury prevention training into physical therapy treatment sessions. When employees learn how to work safer, everyone benefits.

The Downside of Permanent On-Site Clinics

1. It takes a major investment to create a permanent on-site clinic. You need space and equipment.
2. Ongoing overhead costs for facilities and medical personnel are high. You pay the same no matter how often your clinic is used.
3. You don’t need a physical clinic to promote your company wellness program.

Mobile PT Offers the Best of Both Worlds

On-demand on-site physical therapy delivers all the pros of a permanent work site clinic. Without the cons. Mobile PT is changing the way employers address workers’ comp recovery, because it delivers better results. As a workers’ comp professional, you owe it to yourself to learn more about this innovative development.

NATIONAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND DISABILITY CONFERENCE

Don’t miss the upcoming National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference. Mark your calendar right now to attend the session, “Emerging On-Site Physical Therapy Treatment Models” given by Marriott Hotel's Utilization Nurse Manager, Monnie Kinlaw, and Daniel Sanchez, Vice President of Operations for PhysNet. It’s on Friday, December 2 at 10 a.m.

In fact, you and your colleagues can use the promo code SPK16 to save $100.00 if you register by Nov. 28.

This session could be a game-changer for your workers’ comp program.