On-Site Transitional Work Therapy: The Time is Right in Arizona
Posted by Sandy Goldstein on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 @ 04:02 PM
On-Site Transitional Work Therapy is provided by a Physical Therapist (PT) to an injured worker early in the rehabilitation process to facilitate a safe and efficient return-to-work. It is frequently an overlooked, but crucial step in the recovery of an injured worker.
On-Site Transitional Work Therapy is provided at the work site. The services primarily focus on using the injured worker’s functional work tasks to progress the worker to a target job. Progressive conditioning, therapeutic exercises, training in safe work practices such as proper body mechanics and other work-site services may also be used as part of the therapeutic program developed for that injured worker. The services should be provided within a specified time limit which is usually determined by the employer’s overall Return-to-Work program guidelines.
On-Site Transitional Work Therapy services are separate and distinct from Occupational or Physical Therapy services provided at a clinic. The services are no longer required once the injured worker has successfully been transitioned back to full-time, regular duty without restrictions.
Too frequently, the current clinic based model leaves a broad mismatch between the physical demands of the injured worker’s target job and their functional capacity to perform the work.
On-Site Transitional Work Therapy offers earlier attention to job demands, provision of materials handling equipment and training in safe work methods that can expedite recovery and return the injured employee to regular duties sooner by lowering job demands and reducing the job risk factors contributing to ongoing complaints. This just DOESN’T HAPPEN in the clinic.
It’s important to remember, traditional medical treatment such as surgery, clinic based physical therapy and work conditioning can only address the worker ability, which is half of the wellness equation. On-Site Transitional Work Therapy “seals the deal” by solving the ergonomic risk factors that prevent full recovery.
Sandy Goldstein& Associates are experts at providing transitional work therapy services. The services primarily focus on using the injured worker's functional work tasks to progress the worker to a target job. Progressive conditioning, therapeutic exercises, training in safe work practices such as proper body mechanics and other work-site services may also be used as part of the therapeutic program developed for that injured worker. For more information, contact Sandy Goldstein PT, CDMS @http://www.measurabilities.com/consulting/transitional-work-therapy-services/