There's consensus across multiple disciplines about the value of returning to work for injured workers — it's healthy, it contributes to recovery, and it leads to better health outcomes.

Yet not all injured workers reap the health benefits of work. Some recover at home for extended periods — inactive and isolated from their co-workers, social networks, and regular routines — placing them at higher risk of depression, substance use disorders, obesity, heart attacks, and suicide.

A collaborative initiative with B.C.'s physicians and other health care practitioners aims to improve return-to-work outcomes for their patients. If there are no concrete plans for a patient to return to some form of employment eight weeks following the date of their injury, our team now contacts the treatment provider to discuss opportunities for additional treatment or rehabilitation, obstacles to the patient’s recovery, and potential work opportunities if the patient isn’t yet ready to return to regular duties.

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS

Through an interactive presentation, our team will outline the value of this initiative for medical practitioners and their patients by exploring the following topics:

How we can optimize care, access to resources, and disability management through greater collaboration between WorkSafeBC and community medical practitioners
The critical importance of integrating return to work into treatment plans
The essential role of modified work in supporting recovery and rehabilitation and keeping patients attached to the workplace
Removing barriers that could impede a patient’s return to employment
How to access our support and multidisciplinary team