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TO: Administration
& Facility Risk Management Coordinators
FROM: Ron
Null, Risk Manager
DATE 10/21/03
RE: ERTW Resource Guide
The State Employee Risk Management Program (SERMA)
is being supported by a series of new initiatives from the Governor’s Office,
IWIF and DBM. One is the Early Return To Work Pilot Program. A
subcommittee has been formed and will be reviewing existing programs (public and
private sectors) to assess possible implementation in the State of Maryland.
Modified duty is an integral part of the process. In some Agencies this remains
a controversial practice.
Proponents of successful ERTW programs emphasize
many benefits for employers and injured employees:
Reduce Medical Costs Employees
who return to work early typically recover faster and use less medical care than
those who remain off work, resulting in medical cost reductions up to 70%.
Improve Productivity Employees
who are working at limited capacities are still contributing to their company's
success. Having an employee work at a transitional assignment is more productive
than hiring a temporary employee.
Improve Employee Morale Implementing
an ERTW program tells employees their employer values them and is concerned
about their well-being.
Reduce Potential Fraud Claims An
ERTW program that returns injured employees to work immediately following an
injury reduces the incentive to file a false claim in order to take time off
work.
Decrease Attorney Involvement Employers
who do their best to return employees to their job show they care. Employees who
know their employer values them generally will not hire an attorney.
Reduce Financial Impact Many
injured employees experience reduced wages due to an injury while they are away
from work (workers’ compensation benefits are less than take-home pay).
Increase Self-Esteem Providing
meaningful transitional work helps your employee feel like a productive member
of society and it promotes wellness through contact with fellow employees.
Contribute to a Speedier Recovery Keeping
the injured employee physically active and on a normal work schedule contributes
to the healing process. The longer an employee is away from work, the longer it
will be to return.
A simple Netscape SEARCH found over 50 matches on
ERTW. Listed below are several free on-line program documents and related
information sources to increase your knowledge-base:
Montana
State Fund ERTW Program (24
pages)
Developing
a Return to Work Program: A Resource for Employers
Texas WC Comp.
ERTW
Q&A and Brochure Workplace
Safety & Insurance Board (WSIS)
Best
Practices Summary: ERTW Georgia
State Board of Worker’s Compensation
The following is a brief bibliography. Entries
were identified by Government Reference Services, Pratt Library, Baltimore, MD
on subscription databases Please contact me via Email at NullR@dhmh.state.md.us
if you need copies.
Mitchell, Kenneth, Best Practices for Creating
an Effective Return-to-Work Program, Compensation & Benefits Mgt;
Jun2002, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p34, 4p.
Suzuki, Linda, Smith, Jeffery, Creating a
Successful Return-to-Work Program, Employee Benefit Plan Review; May2003,
Vol. 57 Issue 11, p41, 3p.
Mangan, Joseph F., Cutting Disabled Workers
Off From Job Increases Loss Costs, Insurance Advocate; 4/14/2001, Vol. 112
Issue 15, p12, 5/6p.
Quebec, Rich, Developing
the business case for return-to-work programs,
Employee Benefit News; 9/15/2001, Vol. 15 Issue
12, p11, 2p.
Disability management,
Benefits Canada; May2001, Vol. 25 Issue 5, p11, 1p.
Parra, Linda, Chavez, Joseph, Efficacy of
Safety Training and Return-to-work Programs, PA Times; Jun2003, Vol. 26
Issue 6, p9, 2p.
O’Rourke, Lawrence M., Return To Work
Enhances ROI, National Underwriter / Life & Health Financial Services;
09/04/2000, Vol. 104, Issue 36, p20, 1p.
Lynn, Jacquelyn, RETURN POLICY,
Entrepreneur; Dec2002, Vol. 30 Issue 12, p103, 1/4p.
Smith, Alan, Kaplan, Henry, A Proactive
APPROACH, Occupational Hazards; Oct2000, Vol. 69 Issue 10, p172, 3p.
Sleeth, Jane, Motivating the Family Physician
in a Return-to-Work Program. (cover story), HR Professional;
Dec2001/Jan2002, Vol. 18 Issue 6, p22, 3p, 1c.
Blades, Judy, The Knowledge Gap, Best’s
Review; Mar2003, Vol. 103, Issue 11, p64, 1p, 1c.
Scott, Miriam Basch, Implementing
Return-to-Work Program in The Public Sector Poses Unique Challenges: Rockford
Case…,Employee Benefit Plan Review; Sep2001, Vol. 56 Issue 3, p36, 3p.
Butler, Gordon, Getting the Tough Cases Back
to Work, Risk Management (00355593); Nov2002, Vol. 49 Issue 11, p28, 4p, 1
cartoon.
Bernacki, Edward J., Guidera, Jill A., A
Facilitated Early Return to Work Program at a Large Urban Medical Center,
Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine; Dec2000, Vol. 42 Issue 12,
p1172, 6p, 4 charts.
McDonald, Caroline, Equality Critical In
Return-to-Work Plans, National Underwriter / Property & Casualty Risk
& Benefits; 8/27/2001, Vol. 105 Issue 35, p27, 3/4p.
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