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Return To Work Program

Creating a Modified Duty/Return-to-Work program can help reduce workers' compensation costs by minimizing time lost from work-related injuries. A Modified Duty program allows employers to offer injured employees work that fits any physical restrictions until they can return to their original duties. Key steps to implementing an effective Modified Duty program include appointing a coordinator, developing written policies and job descriptions, training supervisors, and working with medical providers to facilitate injured workers' recovery and return to work.

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80 views2 pages

Return To Work Program

Creating a Modified Duty/Return-to-Work program can help reduce workers' compensation costs by minimizing time lost from work-related injuries. A Modified Duty program allows employers to offer injured employees work that fits any physical restrictions until they can return to their original duties. Key steps to implementing an effective Modified Duty program include appointing a coordinator, developing written policies and job descriptions, training supervisors, and working with medical providers to facilitate injured workers' recovery and return to work.

Uploaded by

Aldi Ardian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Creating a Modified Duty/

Return-to-Work program
By Robert Schiller, AIC
Director, AmeriHealth Casualty Services

Escalating workers’ compensation insurance and related costs


adversely affect the profitability and efficiency of many organizations.
Because workers’ compensation insurance premiums are determined
partially by employee injury total costs, it is in the best interest of
any business to take measures to reduce the frequency and severity of
employee injuries.
One way to contain injury costs is to develop and implement a Modified
Duty/Return-to-Work program. A Modified Duty/Return-to-Work
program is an effort to minimize the length and costs of temporary
total disability associated with a work-related injury. The program
allows an employer to offer an injured employee (who cannot perform
the full duties of their pre-injury job classification) work with limited
physical requirements.

Why develop a Modified Duty/Return-to-Work Program?


1. R
 educe workers’ compensation insurance costs:
Workers’ Compensation premiums are determined, in part, by the
frequency and cost of the injuries. If these costs are reduced as a
result of the Modified Duty Program, insurance premiums will also
be reduced.
2. Reduce the direct cost of time lost:
By assigning the injured employee to modified duty as soon as
medically feasible, Temporary Total Disability (TTD) payments
are minimized. Medical and rehabilitation expenses are better
controlled because the employee is coming to work each day and
feeling productive.
3. Reduce the indirect cost of time lost:
By returning the injured worker to their job as quickly as possible,
costs associated with the temporary loss of the employee such as
decreased production, time lost by supervision, hiring and training a
replacement, and decreased efficiency of work are minimized.
4. Facilitate injured employee’s recovery:
Employee involvement minimizes the potential for malingering,
sets an example for other employees, and facilitates the injured
employee’s return to their regular job.

2014-1875 09/14
Tips and guidelines for successful implementation:
Get more information
1. Appoint a Program Coordinator with the skills and authority to
ensure that basic program parameters are observed consistently. Contact Rob Schiller at
The Program Coordinator should also serve as a liaison to injured robert.schiller@ahcasualty.com
employees, supervisors, and medical providers.
2. Develop, endorse, and distribute a Modified Duty policy statement
that can be shared with all employees. Distribute this as part of your
new hire program and make sure employees understand the benefits
and parameters of the program before it is implemented. Limit the
program to employees with temporary physical restrictions that are
the result of a work-related injury.
3. Develop a written Modified Duty program and train applicable
managers and supervisors about the benefits and processes of the
program. They should meet on a regular basis to ensure that the jobs
being performed by injured employees are not causing any additional
damage and are assisting with the rehabilitation process.
4. Develop a list of potential Modified Duty jobs and prepare job
descriptions that include a list of the limited physical demands. The
positions do not need to be existing jobs; you can create any modified
position that you deem acceptable. Work assignments should be
innovative and make effective use of the employee while observing
any applicable restrictions.

Examples of Modified Duty jobs include:


• Equipment cleaning • Repair work
• Filing and clerical work • Security patrol/fire watch
• General housekeeping • Tool room attendant
• Inventory

5. Meet with your occupational health care provider to review your


program and job descriptions. Encourage them to have specific
physicians treat your employees and visit your work site so that they
understand job responsibilities and requirements for return-to-work.
Physical restrictions should be specified in writing by the panel
physician. For municipal employers and insurers, please ensure that
your providers understand that uniformed employees may also work
in a modified duty capacity.
6. Ensure periodic health surveillance (based on medical provider
recommendations) for all employees returning to work with
restrictions. Supervisors and human resources personnel should
routinely check with employees about these jobs and the progress
of their rehabilitation. The duration of this limited activity should
be specified and followed by an examination for the purposes of
reevaluation. Indefinite periods of limited activity should not
be accepted.
AmeriHealth Casualty Insurance Company and their third party
administrator, AmeriHealth Casualty Services, focus on returning
injured workers to employment.

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