Nobody wants to be injured at work. Injured employees don’t want to be out of work – at least not any longer than necessary. As an employer, their early return to work is your #1 goal, too. So if everyone agrees on the goal, what factors drive the best return to work outcomes?

A Company Return to Work Program

Companies that have a formal Return to Work program in place are focused on better outcomes. They are prepared to help injured workers recover sooner.

Collaboration

For many employers, the “best” return to work outcomes have centered on cost savings. That’s understandable. However, a growing number of companies are turning to a “customer service” approach. This philosophy focuses on people, not just dollars. Employers have found that a collaborative approach improves return to work outcomes.

Injured workers who are fully engaged in their return to work plan are more motivated. This is often the most important factor in driving better recovery outcomes. A collaborative environment assures good, timely communication among all parties. That streamlines the workers’ comp claims process. Progress is easy to track.

Mobile Physical Therapy

Mobile physical therapy is an on-demand service. Therapists treat injured workers at their job site, as needed. This provides multiple benefits. If at-home therapy is initially needed, the physical therapist starts there. Then sessions transition to at-work as soon as possible. 

Mobile PT is more effective. Early intervention helps people get better faster. With mobile PT, a physical therapist contacts the injured worker right away to schedule therapy sessions. Injured workers don’t have to wait to get started.

It’s more convenient for them, too. They don’t have to travel to an off-site clinic. Just getting to clinic appointments can be tough for injured workers. In the city, they have to battle traffic congestion. In rural areas, they face a long drive to get to the clinic. Either way, it’s a time-waster. And it can take a physical toll on someone who is injured.

With PT at work, individuals receive 100% one-on-one attention from the physical therapist during their entire session. Their care is tailored to their specific job tasks and working environment as well as their injury. The physical therapist can see, touch, and visualize necessary job performance details. Clinics can try to simulate working conditions. But it’s not the same. For example, a housekeeper at one hotel may perform different tasks or use different tools than a housekeeper somewhere else. 

And there is a “TLC” component, too. At-work PT enables co-workers to see and encourage their injured colleague. They know everyone wants them to return quickly.

Mobile PT is more cost-effective. Employers eliminate expensive travel and transportation costs. One of the country’s premiere luxury hospitality brands now uses mobile PT. They report they have saved 30% overall on their physical therapy costs. And they’ve seen an uptick in compliance.   Returning injured workers to their job sooner also retains vital productivity levels.

Mobile PT helps reduce incidence of re-injury. The physical therapist can see exactly what the worker’s job entails. As they’re helping the patient recover, they are also teaching them safer ways to work in the future.

Could making the switch to mobile PT dramatically boost your return to work outcomes, too? Find out more, at the upcoming NWCD Conference. Plan to attend the session, “Emerging On-Site Physical Therapy Treatment Models,” Friday December 2 at 10am.