Rehabilitation and retention in the workplace--the interaction between general practitioners and occupational health professionals: a consensus statement

General practitioners and occupational health professionals

“…Occupational Medicine (the journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine) recently published a consensus statement on the interaction between general practitioners and occupational health professionals in their roles in vocational rehabilitation 1. This was derived by using a Delphi technique to solicit the views of interested and influential individuals from industry, insurance, academia, representative organisations, government departments, and universities 2 3.…”

“…Returning to work is a part of many patients' complete recovery, and there is evidence to indicate that primary care doctors who participate in minimising their patients' disability achieve better health outcomes as well as greater patient satisfaction 11. The consensus statement is a timely reminder of the importance of both the issue of vocational rehabilitation, and the quality of communication between different healthcare providers, and should be applauded 1. The worthwhile objectives in the consensus statement will require considerable change in resources, attitudes, and systems before they are optimally achievable.…”

Congratulations but no congratulations: should physicians do more to support their patients at work?

“…Attitudes to patients' work should be more positive and health professionals need to be encouraged to communicate better with those able to help the patient. 18 Doctors and employers should encourage early return to work, modified if necessary, before 100% fitness is attained.…”

“…18 He noted that sickness absence is not well managed by some GPs, and that the myth that referral to an occupational health service implies early retirement should be dispelled. Maybe GPs should regard themselves as the gateway to rapid rehabilitation.…”

The role of the physician in disability management: Assessing family physicians' view of discrepancies between practice and Canadian Medical Association guidelines.

“…(Beaumont, 2003;Pransky, 2004;Dorrell, 2002 (Beaumont, 2003 (Krauser, 1994 (Pransky, Katz, Benjamin, & Himmelstein, 2002 (Pransky et al, 2004) (Makdessian, 2000 This statement is to acknowledge the confidential nature of data (both in original audio form, and in print form) obtained in the research study "The Role of the Physician in Disability Management: Assessing family physicians' view of discrepancies between practice and Canadian Medical Association guidelines" and that as such that all data and any copies thereof, will be held in strict confidence -not to be disclosed to any party other than the research investigator, unless otherwise indicated by law (British Columbia). (Beaumont, 2003;Pransky, 2004;Dorrell, 2002 (Beaumont, 2003 (MacBride & Delvin, 1994 (Makdession, 2000;Harder, 2004), due in large part to a lack o f awareness about the workplace, particularly jo b demands and availability o f modified or safe work. Now, early return to work and DM programs have become somewhat commonplace and are seen as representing a win-win-win fo r employees, employers and physicians (Krauser, 1994 (Pransky, Katz, Benjamin, & Himmelstein, 2002 Case Example 1: A patient has been attending an occupational rehabilitation program and the treating therapists have deemed him/her 'fit to return to modified work'.…”