Articles tagged under ‘Long term / complex cases’

Articles 1 - 65 of 65

• Self-management — the muscle behind effective musculoskeletal care

  Self-management of long-term musculoskeletal conditions 101 — the basics.

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• The ‘Four Cs’ of supporting workers with long Covid symptoms return to work

  Thousands of workers with long Covid are, and will continue to be, exploring return to work. Dr Dominic Yong, a senior occupational physician with the Victorian Department of Health, provides tips about how we can best support their return to work.

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• Case manager whistle blower says workers deserve better  

  “I would hate for an injured worker to hear how they’re spoken about in the office,” a NSW claims adviser tells Return to Work Matters.

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• Why some injured workers struggle and how to help

  Rehabilitation counselling guru Dr Boris Fedoric explains why some workers struggle to get back to work, identifying biopsychosocial barriers, explaining what employers and systems often get wrong and identifying supports that promote recovery and RTW.

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• Rehabilitation Counsellor: Role Profile

  In this Q&A with Dr Boris Fedoric, we learn that rehabilitation counsellors put injured workers at the centre of their practice and, from there, aim to negotiate the best possible rehabilitation and return to work outcomes for all parties.

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• Call to power

  Friendly telephone contact from laypeople with no psychological training alleviates loneliness, depression and anxiety in housebound adults, giving employers more incentive to stay in touch with workers who are off work due to injury or illness.

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• Webinar recording: Recovery Blueprint: helping case managers help injured workers

  The Recovery Blueprint project is a partnership between Monash University and WorkCover Queensland with the aim of introducing evidence-based risk identification to workers compensation case management in Queensland.

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• The Covid long haul

  They call themselves the long-haulers – people who struggle with persistent symptoms months after “recovering” from Covid-19. How common is post-covid syndrome? What are the symptoms? How might it affect RTW?

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• Our brains aren't computers, which matters for RTW

  An individual's response to pain is unique to them and changes over time, so giving people the benefit of the doubt is a scientifically savvy move.

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• Working with cancer treatment

  Remaining at work while receiving cancer treatment is increasingly common. Healthy work / cancer fit requires enlightened management from employers and treating practitioners.

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• An introduction to self-compassion

  A look at the emerging evidence on a meditation-based approach that promises relief from depression, anxiety and rumination.

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• Webinar recording: Hacking Return To Work: 3 surprisingly simple RTW strategies you can use right now

  RTW strategies you can use right now to speed up your outcomes and deal with complex cases

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• Grand champions of persuasion...or manipulation?

  Even when it succeeds, manipulation destroys trust and breeds resentment. How can we persuade without manipulating?

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• Moral injury and RTW

  Notions of wrongdoing, blame and guilt can seem dangerous in the context of RTW. Are we missing something about the human experience of workplace injury?

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• I'm going to make you persuasive...really, really persuasive

  President Donald Trump is one of the 21st century's great persuaders. This series looks at the tactics he uses well (and not so well). First up, pacing and leading.

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• WorkSafe Victoria failing the most vulnerable: insurers profiting

  We summarise the Victorian Ombudsman's investigation into WorkSafe's handling of complex claims, which paints a picture of opportunistic insurers and systemic failings. Is WorkSafe ready to listen?

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• Compensation: does it do more harm than good?

  Professor Ian Cameron from the University of Sydney spoke at the 2016 ISCRR Forum on ways that the compensation claims procedures can be changed as well as other possible interventions.

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• Orebro: the questionnaire you need to know about

  The Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (or OMPQ) used to be known as the Acute Back Pain Screening Questionnaire.

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• Chronic Pain in the Workplace: a psychological approach

  Dr Matt Graham, a registered psychologist and team psychologist at OrionHealth, explores the skill sets needed to assist employees to return to work.

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• Learned helplessness in RTW

  'Learned helplessness' is the idea that some people who experience repeated setbacks will eventually develop a passive response to problems. How can you help and understand injured workers who don't try and help themselves?

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• Case Study: It pays to do the right thing, even when dubious about a claim

  Michael was a 48-year-old machine operator. He had been at the workplace for nine months. During his probation period he worked well, but once permanent he missed considerable time from work with unplanned absences.

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• Role Summary: Exercise Physiologist

  Exercise Physiologists are Allied Health professionals who focus on therapeutic physical exercise. They use exercise as medicine.

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• Role Summary: Co-workers

  An injured individual who feels supported and confident with work colleagues has a better return to work outcome. This is a fact.

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• Role Summary: Families

  Families and friends play a vital part in the recovery of injured workers. They provide emotional support as well as physical assistance.

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• Case study: Flexible approaches can kickstart cases

  Despite the best efforts of the return to work manager, some cases seem to make little progress. Looking beyond the physical injury for solutions can help boost a client's chances of returning to work.

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• Turning a dead-end into a new start

  An individualised, flexible re-training program aimed at giving people confidence may be key to returning workers to employment.

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• Apologies go a long way in work injury

  Offering injured workers an apology is likely to decrease long-term claims and improve outcomes for all parties.

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• Recorded Webinar: A Case Management Discussion

  Frank Imbesi & Dr Mary Wyatt discuss a case put forward by RTWMatters subscriber Meagan Moravcova.

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• The power of learned optimism

  How 'learned optimism' can improve return to work outcomes: Breaking down Theo Feldbrugge's webinar presentation.

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• Video webinar: Improving Return to Work Motivation with Optimism

  Theo Feldbrugge discusses the impact of optimism / pessimism on return to work.

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• Consider the alternative: Part 2 - Dispute resolution systems

  Dispute Resolution system expert Nerida Wallace explains the important characteristics of a workers' compensation dispute resolution system

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• Consider the alternative: ADR in the workers' compensation context

  An introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes and their application in the Australian workers' compensation system

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• Leading the pack or dragging it down?

  When one part of the system underperforms, the others follow suit.

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• Flagging the obstacle course of bad outcomes

  From the hot tubs of New Zealand to the bread and butter of a RTW Coordinator's work.

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• Down the rabbit hole...

  In which SuperDoc describes perplexing cases of ordinary and extraordinary patients falling down the rabbit hole of workers' comp

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• The ABC of CBT: Part Three

  In which we ask: Who would benefit from CBT? How can you broach the subject of therapy in the workplace? How long does CBT take?

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• The ABC of CBT: Part Two

  In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that when you change your behaviour, you also change your thoughts, beliefs, feelings...and rehab prospects.

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• The ABC of CBT: Part One

  In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that 'C' is for 'Cognitive,' and that thoughts aren't facts.

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• Are we asking the right questions?

  There's more than meets the eye when it comes to patients at risk of poor return to work results.

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• Think scary RTW cases come out of the blue? Think again.

  Identify high risk cases BEFORE they bite.

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• Superdoc (10) - Rehabilitate or terminate - who cares?

  Financial rewards and KPIs as perverse incentives.

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• SuperDoc (5) - On partnerships with doctors

  Partnerships between doctors and the workplace are worth working on.

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• Case Study: Re-training for a better future

  Encouraging an injured worker to retrain and undertake self-management strategies could save millions in compensation costs.

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• 8 steps for tackling long-term cases - Part 2

  Picking up a long-term case for the first time can seem daunting. Here are a series of steps to help you structure your approach.

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• 8 steps for tackling long-term cases - Part 1

  Picking up a long-term case for the first time can seem daunting. Here are a series of steps to help you structure your approach.

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• Litigation in workers' compensation disputes: why we should avoid it

  In the first of our two-part series on the risks and limitations of litigation in workers' compensation disputes, we look at why it should be avoided, and reasons why employees turn to the lawyers.

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• The 'what' and 'how' of your workers' comp dispute: Part 2 - the 'how'

  In the second part of a two-part series on preparing for a workers' compensation dispute we look at 'how' you can best put your prepartion into practice

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• The 'what' and 'how' of a workers' comp dispute: Part 1 - the 'what'

  In the first of two articles on how to get the most out of your workers' comp dispute resolution process we take a look at the importance of understanding the 'what'/content of a dispute.

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• Troubled employees

  Some Dos and Don'ts for dealing with troubled employees.

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• Frustrated by "victims"?

  People who believe they've been treated unfairly have lower functional ability than those who think that they've had a fair go. How can you get them past the victim mentality?

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• Caring for carers

  Twelve tips for carers, to help them cope with the challenges of caring for a sick or injured loved one.

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• Chronic disease snapshot

  In Australia and globally, preventable chronic diseases are on the rise. What does this mean for employers?

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• Rehab Providers a mystery to you?

  This Q&A for employers covers the Who, What, When and How of Rehabilitation Providers

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• What is process related injury?

  Sometimes compensation systems, not injury, deliver the knock out blow. Don't let that happen to your workers!

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• Quick guide: Avoiding litigation

  Don't send yourself--or your worker--to the dogs! Fair in-house systems can keep claims out of court.

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• When the doctor says "no" to return to work

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• Stalled RTW?

  This simple checklist will help you pinpoint the problem and jump start the process.

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• What's more painful than chronic pain? Chronic pain in 'The System'

  Workers' comp and RTW systems can exacerbate chronic pain, but as Coralie Wales from Chronic Pain Australia explains, that's not the end of the story...

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• Top ten tips for preventing long term claims

  Changes to your injury management system can help reduce claim duration.

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• Rehabilitating after mental illness

  With dignity and respect, self-responsibility and supportive relationships, return to work after mental illness is achievable.

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• Catastrophic injuries

  What are 'catastrophic injuries'? Why it is important to manage them well in the workplace, and how this can be done.

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• Working with quadriplegia TWO: physical challenges need flexible management

  Mario was set to become a surgeon before an accident left him with quadriplegia. Management flexibility was key to a sustainable return to work.

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• Working with quadriplegia ONE: what motivates return to employment

  What helped Mario return to work after a car accident left him with quadriplegia?

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• When adequate rehabilitation is not enough

  A long-term stable worker sustains a significant hip injury. While he has returned to work on restricted duties, a long term view is needed.

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• When compensation impedes recovery

  Studies show that workers are less likely to recover from illness or injury if they enter the compensation system.

Archived Articles 1 - 7 of 7

• Consider the alternative: Part 6 - Western Australia

  We speak with WorkCover WA about the current system and big changes on the horizon.

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• Consider the alternative: Part 5 - Queensland

  Q-COMP CEO Elizabeth Woods discusses Queensland's unique 'short-tail' workers' compensation system.

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• Consider the alternative: Part 4 - New South Wales

  We speak with the Registrar of the NSW Workers Compensation Commission Sian Leathem about how the Commission is working, and how it is looking to improve outcomes

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• Compensating 9/11 first responders

  Is compensation for 9/11 first responders a black and white moral issue, or is the situation more complex?

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• Investigating an occupational stress claim? Say goodbye early intervention and hello long term claim!

  All too often, the Process Steamroller pushes stressed employees into the Chasm of Long Term Claims. We talk - seriously - with Dr Rod Gutierrez about the slapstick of occupational stress.

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• Returning to a different work

  In an interview with Wolfgang Zimmermann, Executive Director of NIDMAR, we learn the story of his special return to work, and hear how he's made a career out of helping others to do the same.

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• Award winning serious injury management.

  What does it take to win an award in the challenging environment of complex injury management? One award winning provider gives us his tips and advice.

Research 1 - 24 of 24

• Is exercise really a good way to self-manage depression?

  For people who are looking for a natural, drug-free way to manage their depression, a recent study confirms that exercise can be a fantastic option. It's especially important for those who may not want to take medication or go to therapy.

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• Person-centred care for musculoskeletal pain — a tool to put principles into practice

  Person-centred care is an important part of care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. But evidence that some healthcare professionals struggle to integrate person-centred care principles into their clinical practice. A tool that provides a structured approach can help.

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• Why self-management can be hard to do — barriers in primary healthcare settings

  A study explores the barriers to self-management of chronic pain conditions in primary healthcare settings.

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• Supporting self-management of long-term conditions — the ‘who for’, ‘who by’, ‘what works’ and ‘how’

  It is now accepted that self-management is critical for people with chronic conditions. But what works best? And for which conditions? A comprehensive review of the evidence gives healthcare providers some ideas.

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• Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study Part 4 — suggestions for improvement to the workers’ compensation system

  It’s the people who have first-hand experience of a service or system that can give the most valuable feedback about what works and what doesn’t. Participants in the Victorian injured worker outcome study tell us what they think.

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• Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study Part 3 — what happens to injured workers at the end of their workers’ comp claim?

  Workers with long term claims face many challenges when their claims end. Difficulty finding work and being ineligible for Centrelink benefits and other government support programs are just some of them.

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• Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study Part 2 — how healthcare providers and case managers affect RTW outcomes

  Most injured workers return to work quickly. But why don’t others? And what can we do to reduce those factors that can delay recovery and extend claims. Healthcare providers and insurance case managers have a part to play.

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• The Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study: Part 1 — the impact of IMEs on workers’ recovery

  A Victorian study into the factors that influence longer term workers’ compensation claims found that some ‘events’ in workers’ compensation systems can lead to lengthy claims. One of those key events are independent medical examinations.

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• A look at hospital admissions after long-duration workers’ compensation claims

  A study finds that people with long duration workers’ compensation claims were more likely than others to need hospital treatment in the year before, and the year after, their payments stopped.

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• Study probes factors behind poorer health, lower employment in injured workers’ post-claim experience

  New injured worker cohort study at IWH focuses on experiences of workers with long-duration claims of 12-plus months

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• Motivational interviewing and RTW

  Motivational interviewing is very beneficial, according to injured workers who need practical help or more information about navigating workers' compensation systems. However, workers who are doing ok on their own don't benefit.

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• Returning to work after stroke

  Stroke is becoming more common in working age individuals. How likely is RTW, and what sorts of supports are needed?

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• Healthcare workers, violence and RTW

  Violence can lead to a complex combination of physical and psychological injury. Workers who suffer a violent workplace injury have a different RTW trajectory than those who haven't. Some will need extra support - these are the signs.

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• Work injury and deaths of despair

  Research from the US confirms a connection between work absences of more than a week and deaths from drug overdose and suicide.

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• Driving back to work (and stopping on the way)

  Failed RTW is more likely after a traffic accident causing whiplash than other injuries. What else predicts an unsuccessful first attempt to get back to work?

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• Introducing ROSES

  In the search to find a screening tool to assist workers with MSDs and common mental health problems, will an Orebro by any other name smell as sweet?

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• The test you do not want to ACE

  Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common, and can wreak havoc on physical and psychological health in adulthood. What is the impact at work?

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• Women, children and RTW

  Injury has a big impact on home life. Does home life (especially caring for dependent children) impact RTW in turn?

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• Research short: Does job coaching help people find work?

  What does the evidence say about the effectiveness of job coaching for people who cannot return to a job with their previous employer?

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• Multidisciplinary rehab program shows benefits beyond the short term

  A two-year study shows the continuing benefits of comprehensive rehab.

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• Multidisciplinary rehab costs $$. Is it worth it?

  A comparison of the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and standard care in the treatment of neck and shoulder pain.

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• It's all in the head: supporting families dealing with traumatic brain injury

  Identifying the needs of families caring for someone with a traumatic brain injury.

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• Left behind in the RTW journey - Part 2

  Long term claimants commonly describe a system that is frustrating, does not consider their needs, and misses out on treating them as an individual.

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• If RTW with chronic back pain fails, try a new approach

  Chronic pain is challenging to manage. Dr Wyatt describes a hotel worker's persistent, disabling case of back pain - and the treatment changes that made all the difference.