Study shows most lost time unnecessary
June 1, 1998 2 minutes read
Study shows most lost time unnecessary
Reasons identified for not returning to work
A recent survey of occupational medicine physicians revealed that fewer than 10% of work-related injuries require more than three days off from work for medical reasons, a marked contrast with the actual number of injured workers who stay off long enough to collect workers' compensation.
Nationally, about one out of four workplace injuries (24%) results in lost time, according to Jennifer Christian, MD, vice president and chief medical officer at ManagedComp Inc., a Waltham, MA-based company that provides workers' compensation managed care services and insurance programs to more than 3,000 employers in 44 states.
ManagedComp surveyed 250 physician attendees at a recent conference sponsored by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Ninety of the 97 physicians who completed the written survey said they practice occupational medicine.
More than half of the physicians surveyed (57%) believe that less than 5% of workplace injuries require lost time. Ninety percent of the physicians said that, at most, 10% of work-related injuries warrant more than one to three days for recuperation.
"These findings suggest that non-medical reasons are the usual cause for delay in returning an injured employee to work," Christian says.
More than two-thirds of the physicians surveyed said the following reasons for lost time commonly occur in their practice or community:
· The employer has a policy against light duty.
· The employer cannot temporarily modify a job.
· The treating doctor is unwilling to force a patient back to work.
· The treating doctor is not equipped to determine the right restrictions and limitations.
· The treating doctor feels caught in the middle between the employer's and employee's versions of the situation.
· Too little information about the physical demands of the job has been provided to the treating physician.
· There is a conflict between the opinions of two physicians.
Christian says a "surprisingly large percentage" of lost time is preventable. Employers can save money by communicating clearly and partnering effectively with medical providers in the community. Providers who understand an employer's policies and work site are better able to treat injured employees and advise employers.
"Lack of communication creates a costly vacuum," she says.
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