Disability Case Management
If your company is small, you
may need help when faced with an employee who makes a disability claim. Your best strategy can be to partner with a nationally known medical assessment company. These companies often provide
disability case
management, which can expedite your
employee's return to work and resolve issues to everyone's satisfaction.
Policies and Procedures
While large corporations have
enough personnel to ensure that their policies and procedures surrounding
disability are in place, smaller companies may not. That's why it's important
for smaller companies to tap into the expertise that a medical assessment company can provide for them. These organizations support employers in their quest to
formulate policy, prevent injuries and the spread of illness, and resolve
disability claims.
Here are some of the many
services a medical assessment company can provide:
- Policy Formulation. Good
HR/Disability policy can help your employees know what to expect, and your
managers know how to deal with various situations. A medical assessment company will help you to make sense of your situation.
- Education. A medical assessment
company will provide education in various areas for your employees. This can range
from intensive workshops for managers about disability procedure, to casual
"Lunch and Learn” seminars about safety. Some companies will assess your
workplace for hazards and recommend ergonomic adaptations.
- Clinics and Screening. Onsite clinics can be a great way to help prevent illnesses in the workplace.
Many organizations host fall "Flu Clinics,” for example, featuring available
flu vaccinations and reminders about how to prevent germs from spreading. These
have been shown to reduce flu-related absenteeism. Screening clinics can be set
up for various conditions. One of the most popular screens for both high blood
pressure and high cholesterol counts. By identifying employees with these
conditions and recommending simple treatments, employers often help to prevent
debilitating heart attacks and strokes. Another common screening clinic aims to
identify problem drinkers and drug-dependent employees. Addiction issues are
among the most pernicious of employee illnesses, and cost thousands of hours of
lost productivity as well as having a negative effect on client and coworker
relationships.
- Employee
Assistance Plans. Some medical assessment companies will help you implement EAPs, which allow your employees access to immediate
counseling for issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, grief, and marital
discord.
Case Managers
Disability case managers gather
information, problem solve, design and coordinate the "return to work” plan,
ensuring compliance with appropriate provincial laws. The case manager often
operates at arms-length from the employer, to ensure that the employee's
medical information remains confidential. The case manager has regular contact
with all of the stakeholders, and uses best efforts to ensure that a timely
return to work occurs.
Partner with a medical
assessment company today and discover the advantages that expertise in the field
can bring to your company!