RTW Strategies that Successfully Return Injured Workers to Employment

1. RTW Strategies that Successfully Return Injured Workers to Employment Peggy J. Huntsinger, ARM,CPDM, WCCA

2. History • 1995 Injury Management Program – including Temporary Modified Duty Accommodations • 96/97 Fiscal Year Introduced WC Cost Allocation to Departments Based on Loss History

3. Background • Stanislaus County is a local area government located in the heart of California. We have over 30 departments ranging from Law Enforcement, Health Care, Social services, Public Works, Financial, etc., with over 86 physical locations. A total area of 1,520 square miles, with population of approx 469,512. Our average number of employees is 4,429 – number is fluid.

4. History… • 1997 Job Task Analysis followed by Post Offer Pre Placement Physical Abilities Testing and Post Hire Ergonomics screening and education • 1998 Formed Task Force to explore DM concept including Union participation

5. History… • 1999 Implemented formalized Disability Management Program

6. Opportunities • Culture shift • Philosophy change

7. Return to Work Considerations • Temporary Modified Duty • Permanent Accommodation in Current Job Assignment or Classification • Permanent Accommodation in an Alternate Job Assignment or Classification

8. Recommendation • Implement a Temporary Modified Duty Program • Make Exploration of Permanent Job Assignments an Automatic Event • Share Success Stories

9. Keys to Success • Job Task Analysis (identify essential functions and physical demands) • Designated Occupational Physicians or Approved MPN • Department Accountability • Education

10. Temporary Modified Duty • Modify current job assignment to accommodate: • Reduce hours • Transfer some duties • Provide asistive devices • Identify a bank of alternate job assignments • Use Work Restriction Agreements

11. Permanent Accommodation • Permanent Accommodation in Current Job Assignment or Classification • Permanent Accommodation in an Alternate Job Assignment or Classification • Make Exploration of Permanent Job Assignments an Automatic Event

12. Communicate Success • Management Reports • Safety Meetings • Newsletters

13. Realized Savings • In the fiscal year 94/95 we had a total paid lost days (TD & 4850) of 18,156 • In the fiscal year 0405 we had a total of paid lost days (TD & 4850) of 8,064 • That is a reduction of 10,092 paid lost days

14. 11 Year History Paid Lost Days

15. Permanent Accommodation • We have permanently accommodated more then 91 people over the past six years.

16. Permanent Accommodation

17. Edison International and Sedgwick CMS Deke Lightholder, CRC Sherri Stevens, M.S., CDMS, CPDM

18. Edison International • Second Largest Utility in CA • Power to 12 million customers • 50,000 square mile service area • 14,300 employees working in service centers, hydro plants, substations, power plants, call centers, nuclear power plant and administrative office • Return to Work • Workers’ Compensation – Law Department • Disability Management – Human Resources

19. Workers’ Compensation Self-Insured, Self Administered • 35 Employees • 1 Early Intervention Representative • Claims having lost time • Return to work with modifications • 1 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor • Vocational Rehabilitation • RTWP (closed, denied, post 1/1/04 DOI) • Job Analyses • Ergonomic Evaluations

20. Disability Management • Human Resource Department • Corporate Medical Services/Disability Management • DM administers corporate disability benefits and leave laws, non-occupational disabilities, accommodations, and corporate • Return to Work Program • Absence Management • TPA – Sedgwick CMS

21. Sedgwick CMS • Overview • Workers’ Compensation • Claims Management

22. Workers’ CompensationEarly Intervention • Edison EI • Explores and coordinates Light Duty • Inquires about potential for modified work and alternate jobs • Provides employee’s medical status to work location • May perform a Job Analysis and send to doctor to obtain approval for RTW via light/modified/alternate work • Sedgwick CMS EI

23. Return to Work Program • W.C. Vocational Rehabilitation • D.M. RTWP - Old School VR Approach • Applies to Non-Occupational and Occupational • Internal VRCs and outside VRCs • Vocational Evaluations • Training/educational opportunities • Job placement assistance • Temporary Assignments • Supplemental pay (inside Edison only) • Bonus • Accommodations

24. Accommodations • Schedule flexibility, leave, step-up programs • Tools promoting safety, comfort, & productivity • Chairs • Foot rests • Wrist rests • Mouse/keyboard selection • Computer monitors • Headsets • Work station adjustments/positioning • Sit/Stand stations • Technology – Voice Recognition Technology

25. What Works • Workers’ Compensation Early Intervention • Corporate Commitment-Partnering with business units to develop a rapport, build their trust • Job Modifications/Accommodations • Vocational Rehab./Return to Work Program • Comprehensive services • Union buy-in • Temporary Assignments – OJT • Employees develop new skills/transition back to work • Supervisors can evaluate worker skills/traits

26. Absence Management 2005 • Negotiated with unions • New TPA selected • Absence Management Program • Greatest Challenges • Change Management • Systems

27. Partnership New Program Planning • Opportunities for process improvements • Share Best Practices • Process Flow Development • Staff Selection • Staff Training

28. RTW • Occupational/Non-Occupational RTW • Returning to Work • Reduces costs/lost work days • Retains talent • Right thing to do • Mitigates lawsuits/grievances • Compliance • ADA/FEHA Claims

29. Questions • ???????????