Your portal for return to work

Overview

Return to work and workers’ compensation issues can be one of the most challenging and costly areas for employers.

Many opportunities for improvements in managing RTW and reducing costs are missed through:

– a lack of understanding–the time it takes to find up to date information and support.

Return to Work Matters is an online resource for return to work and disability management professionals as well as employers wanting to help injured or ill employees to recover their health and get back to their jobs.

Overview

Benefits:

• More knowledge• Increased confidence• Sense of being part of something good• Idea generation• Keep people interested in their job• Support• Reduced direct and indirect costs

rtwknowledge.org is a slice whilst rtwmatters.org is the pie

Features of the site

1. Handbook I want to know how to manage a case What workplace systems improve RTW outcomes

2. Evidence-baseWhat is the best care for my employeeI’d like to influence the doctor treating our employee

3. Case studies What the heck can I do with this case

4. Feature articles

Talking to employees feels like talking to brick wall at timesI’m having trouble getting through to doctors

5. News Keep up to date with what is happening in the field

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Features of the site

6. Policy Thought provoking views on local /international policy

7. Tools Where can I find a handout to give employees about RTW

8. Events What conferences are available on Stress in Victoria this year

9. Links / resources

I’d like to see what’s available to help an employee with bad anxiety

10. Light relief Groan, it’s been a tough day

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Content on the site can be found by

1. Reviewing the Topics page

2. Using the search facility

3. Browsing the material in the content sections:

Articles / Research / Opinion / Links / Tools / Handbook / Events

A guide to using rtwmatters.org

Home page

Topics

Articles

Feature writers

Research

Links

Tools

Handbook – Case management

Handbook – Case management

Handbook - Advanced

Handbook - Advanced

Events

Effective return to work

• At the heart of effective return to work approaches are people connections

• Case management works– What makes case management work– Competencies of effective case managers– (Claims, rtw coordinators, supervisors,

managers)

Aims of the site

• Best practice• Tools to influence

others• Practical ideas• Improve confidence• Keep engaged• Professional

development

Learn Think

Inspire Enjoy

Develop Help

Contribute

Upskill and engage all levels

• Case studies• Handbook – Case Management• Top ten tips & practical helpNewbies

• Feature articles• Case studies • Links section with readings• Handbook – Workplace Systems

Been in it for a while

Upskill and engage all levels

• Handbook – Workplace systems• Toolkits • Material to influence others

Super Skilled

Use of the site - some examples

Injury managers

– Ideas from case studies

– Send research summary to GP

– Provide link to patient information handout to employee

– Have a laugh

WorkCover managers

–Second section of the handbook on workplace policies–Presentation to engage supervisors–Supervisor and rtw coordinator training packages–Influence policy makers

Other materials available

• Advance material to improve systems

• Case manager / Supervisor training

• Toolkits to develop cost effective– Pre employment screening programs– Health and programs

• Licensed training program for – Supervisors– Rtw coordinators

• Based on needs analysis and testing of outcomes by Liberty Mutual research centre– Supervisor satisfaction– Decreased claims and

claim duration

Contents1. Background and Rationale 2. Understanding

musculoskeletal pain and discomfort

3. Communication with workers about pain and injury

4. The difficult case5. Problem solving using

ergonomic principles6. Workforce reintegration

Supervisor training

Health and productivity toolkit

Section 1: background and introduction. An overview of health and wellbeing, and connection with productivity. Reviews the literature on the business case for health and wellbeing investment.

Section 2: Case studies.

• Two case studies – Aus / US

• One operated internally / one outsourced

• Examine– The approaches

– The results produced

– What made these programs effective

Section 3: Designing your program. • The five important measures

organisations can take to improve health and productivity

• Pitfalls• How to introduce and operate a program

so that it produces the best results.

Section 4: Research summary. This section gives a brief summary of the

research drawn upon in this toolkit.

Pre employment toolkit (PEMA)

The toolkit and workbook include the following:

Introduction – what are PEMA programs and what can they do Designing the program – goals, objectives, types of assessments, choosing an

assessment type and much more Operating the program – determining and analyzing results, revisiting the policy

and evaluating the program Potential problems – unreported conditions, accuracy of reports and other issues Sample PEMA policy – overview, staffing, assessments, confidential archives,

complaints and appeals process

Features and feedback

• Good starting point for team training, every one told to read an article for meeting – as a framework to start a discussion

• Information, particularly condensed information, top ten tips • Topics page and search function for busy people • Trends in the field• Through training budget• Concise information on medical issues, good for non expert• Facilitates and teaches better communication • Increases confidence +++• Case manager perspective, helps them to be more strategic• Ability to request info on a particular issue• KPIs have limited values, access to info outside of the corporate structure may

make it easier for managers to get the picture. • Use for training of new staff, choice of particular ‘pages’ as part of induction

Contact information

For more information, visit us at www.rtwmatters.org

Your contact: Cheryl GriffithsEmail: cherylgriffiths@rtwmatters.orgPhone: 03 9866 6376