International Journal of Disability Management最新文献

{"title":"Establishing the DM profession in Germany","authors":"G. Pruss","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.54","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.54","url":null,"abstract":"We seek to - Found an organisation which represents the interests of the disability manager and disability management (VDIMA e. V.).- Advertise campaigns to inform about the general objectives of professional disability management.- Build relationships to all the stakeholders especially to decision-makers in politics.- Offer further vocational training to the disability manager.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82092130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of psychosocial factors on claims outcomes in the group income protection market: findings from a prospective pilot study","authors":"Carly Van Den Akker","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.20","url":null,"abstract":"Research suggests that psychosocial factors predict recovery better than biomedical factors alone in the normal population. However, no studies have been carried out in the disability income insurance setting, where the availability of financial cover is usually perceived as the main detractor of recovery and return to work. Swiss Re's clinical claims team in collaboration with the Research & Development team, conducted a 3 year prospective study to evaluate the role of psychosocial factors in recovery within a group income protection sample. Predictors of return to work were: beliefs about recovery and work, work ethic, coping, and self-efficacy. Interestingly, medical diagnosis alone and treatment did not predict recovery and return to work in this sample. Our objective was to conduct research to gain an understanding of psychosocial predictors in the insurance setting, and additionally to develop specific claims management strategies for our claims assessors to manage their claims more effectively through exploring the psychosocial barriers influencing on a claimant's absence, and providing adequate support at the right time, in a cost-effective manner.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"86 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79132265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new approach to occupational reintegration using the hybrid assistive limb voluntary driven exoskeleton HAL","authors":"Hans-Jörg Piasecki, O. Cruciger","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.63","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.63","url":null,"abstract":"The socio-professional reintegration of spinal cord injured (SCI) patients, remains challenging due to aggravating circumstances. In spite of conventional treatment the patients’ limitations regarding mobility, chronic pain syndrome, incontinence and prolonged inability to work due to decubitus ulcer and contractures often add up to an insurmountable disadvantage in the occupational rehabilitation. An international cooperation between Cyberdyne Inc. (Japan) and the professional association of raw materials and chemical industry (Germany), focusing on a new therapeutic approach reveals promising outcomes to improve the situation of these spinal cord injured patients. During the treatment the patients perform a locomotion training using the hybrid assistive limb (HAL®) exoskeleton which offers the unique possibility to record and amplify minimal bioelectrical signals by emg-electrodes on the skin of the lower extremities resulting in machine supported gait pattern synchronously to the patient´s voluntary drive. After 12 weeks of training significant improvements, regarding functional mobility has been achieved leading overall to a more autonomous and motivated patient. The presentation of the results and potential impact on the occupational rehabilitation will be based on video supported case reports.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"104 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77001661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical factors in implementing the ISSA Guidelines on return to work and re-integration in developing world contexts","authors":"M. Olivier, A. Govindjee","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.42","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.42","url":null,"abstract":"The International Social Security Association (ISSA) “Guidelines on Return-to-Work and Reintegration” (the Guidelines) chronicles good practice models, policies and procedures which have successfully been implemented by social security institutions in respect of return-to-work and reintegration. Models have specifically been developed by ISSA in order to identify approaches that will enable decision-makers in social security institutions to benefit from global experience in this area. In particular, the Guidelines are designed to: outline strategic options for social security institutions in order to achieve these outcomes; stimulate discussion around good practice return-to-work programmes for social security institutions; identify critical success design elements; and offer practical implementation tools. Return-to-work of occupationally injured and diseased workers, and the management of their disabilities, is an area clearly in need of reform in the developing world. The proposed contribution focuses on the recent experiences of two middle-to-high income developing countries, namely Malaysia and South Africa, who are at different stages of introducing and implementing detailed return-to-work measures. The paper considers salient aspects of the seven “Specific Return-to-work Principles and Guidelines” (the Specific Guidelines, contained in Part B of the Guidelines) and matches these against the approaches adopted / being adopted by Malaysia and South Africa respectively. This methodology is designed to provide a comparative, context-specific sample of the application of selected issues emerging from the Specific Guidelines in order to provide some pointers for purposes of extrapolating how return-to-work and reintegration might be introduced and implemented in other (middle-to-high income) countries in the developing world. The paper acknowledges the tremendous challenges faced by developing countries in introducing and implementing return-to-work and reintegration arrangements, but focuses instead on the application of Specific Guidelines such as “early intervention” and an “individualized approach” in Malaysia and South Africa. The paper draws on constitutional frameworks, draft and existing legislation, policy statements and judicial precedent in order to demonstrate the extent to which the two countries have already been able to integrate selected best practice principles, which are now contained in the Specific Guidelines, in their respective approaches. The paper accordingly holds the potential to demonstrate that the sentiments contained in the Guidelines are practically implementable and ought, therefore, to be carefully considered and analysed by other countries seeking to introduce similar return-to-work and rehabilitation initiatives.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77228178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protecting the vulnerable victim in criminal injuries matters","authors":"R. Guthrie","doi":"10.1017/IDM.2014.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/IDM.2014.11","url":null,"abstract":"Each year large numbers of persons sustain serious injury as a consequence of criminal behaviours. All Australian jurisdictions provide systems of compensation to those harmed in this way. In many instances assessors of compensation have to consider not simply the appropriate and fair amount of compensation but how a person will be affected by the payment of compensation. Often those applicants apply through their guardians or a public trustee, although many applicants apply in person. This paper examines the use of legislative provisions, rules regulations and practices in the various Australian jurisdictions in relation to how vulnerable criminal injuries applicants may be protected once an award of compensation is made in their favour. Most jurisdictions provide for a mechanism by which compensation awarded may be held in trust in the event that the compensation assessor considers that the applicant may be unable to manage her or his financial affairs and where it would be in the best interests of the applicant. When considering what is in the best interests of the applicant the assessor will have regard to the manner in which the inability to manage financial matters has arisen either as a consequence of the offence the subject of the application, pre-exiting mental health issues, substance addiction and abuse or vulnerability to exploitation by family members or close associates. This paper explores what factors are taken into account by assessors in the absence of and pursuant to legislative directions. It considers how the approach may vary across jurisdictions and creative approaches to protection vulnerable criminally injured persons.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"8 3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78471490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural challenges to implementation of early intervention of the bio-psychosocial model","authors":"Nikki Brouwers","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.65","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.65","url":null,"abstract":"Early intervention of the biopsychosocial model as a framework to achieve sustainable employment outcomes following injury, illness or disease is well documented in the International research. However in some areas of disability management the term early intervention is consistently applied exclusively within the medical model with early access to treatment and diagnostic tools. However in Australia, whilst the knowledge of the Health benefits of work consensus statement is gaining traction, we remain lagging in effective implementation of early intervention models of the biopsychosocial model to return to work and return to life. This paper explores the structural challenges associated with successful implementation of the model and provides International learnings and applications for consideration and adaption to the Australian context. Further this paper will provide learnings from a pilot program being run in NSW that has been successful in the early triage and referral into a structured Return to Work program that is achieving strong results.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"268 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77707331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Employer costs of mental health claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs","authors":"W. Coduti","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.38","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.38","url":null,"abstract":"Mental health (MH) and disability management (DM) businesses and DM professionals are proficient at addressing employee physical health, yet promoting employee MH is often ignored. Individuals claiming long-term disability (LTD), 85% identified MH conditions as their primary disability (Carls et al., 2012). Mental health LTD expenses are often higher due to longer recovery and challenges in return to work (Salkever, Goldman, Purushothaman, & Shinogle, 2000). Financial burdens of depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders are among the greatest of any disease condition in the workforce (Johnston et al., 2009). Globally, a fifth to a quarter of employees go to work everyday with a mental illness (Lorenzo-Romanella, 2011). Health care research has shown the impact of mental illness on work performance, however many employers and researchers are unaware of the value quality MH care has on employees and costs (Langlieb, & Kahn, 2005). The American Psychological Association (APA) identified five categories of workplace practices that promote psychological health in employees including: employee involvement; work-life balance; employee growth and development; health and safety; and employee recognition (APA, 2014). Organizational benefits of the five elements include: improved quality, performance and productivity; reduced absenteeism, presenteeism and turnover; fewer accidents and injuries; improved ability to attract and retain quality employees; improved customer service and satisfaction; and lower healthcare costs (APA, 2014). The presenters will discuss employer costs of MH claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs, decreasing MH claims and costs. Opportunities for future research include the United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on MH (Mechanic, 2012) through provisions that encourage employers to adopt health promotion programs (Goetzel et al., 2012) and opportunities for research including comparisons of multinational employers regarding MH costs in countries with single payer systems, and in those without (United States), (Tanner, 2013).","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84863006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing a concise set of principles for use by clinicians and regulators to determine the need for treatment within a compensable setting","authors":"P. Coburn","doi":"10.1017/IDM.2014.41","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/IDM.2014.41","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Delivering quality health services in a cost effective manner is becoming an increasingly critical issue for insurance companies and government agencies. The Clinical Framework used as part of peer review has been proposed as an alternative for institutions to control costs and maintain optimal clinical care. Objectives: To develop a concise set of principles for use by clinicians and regulators to determine the need for treatment within in a compensable setting. Method: The Clinical Framework was first implemented in 2003 at the Victorian WorkCover Authority as part of peer review of physiotherapy management of injured workers. It consists of five principles that clinicians and institutions use to determine the ongoing need for intervention. The Framework allows clinicians to exercise judgment in selecting treatment with due consideration to the evidence and patient's individual needs. Results: Following its introduction in 2003, it broadened to apply to chiropractic, osteopathy, psychology, and occupational therapy. In 2012 it was endorsed across Australia for motor accident and worker's compensation bodies by the representative bodies of the above disciplines. In 2013 Federal Minister Shorten released a review of the SRC Act which recommended amendments including “medical treatment must meet objective standards such as those in the Clinical Framework.” Discussion: This paper will discuss some of the issues that have been addressed in implementing the Clinical Framework on over 20,000 files over the past ten years. Conclusions: The Clinical Framework is a document that has won broad acceptance across the Australian compensable system in allied health as part of sustaining quality care while reducing unnecessary costs.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85563889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Benchmarking as an ideal method for optimising rehabilitation","authors":"Bernd Fuhrlaender","doi":"10.1017/idm.2014.69","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/idm.2014.69","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: To show that benchmarking, through internal and/or external structured comparisons, is the ideal method to conduct more efficient and more effective processes. The presentation illustrates that benchmarking, especially in the rehabilitation of accident victims, is the appropriate method to use to focus on the various interests, backgrounds and individual needs of accident victims during therapy management. The objective of the project, Benchmarking the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Case Management, was to identify usable examples and methods for optimizing therapy management based on structured comparisons. The project, in which fourteen insurance carriers took part, was initiated by the German association of accident insurance carriers, Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV). The Benchmarking focused on how the insurance carriers handled the rehabilitation process, from the time of the accident to the end of the treatment period or the occupational reintegration. The entire rehabilitation process, including the case work as well as the active planning, cooperation and monitoring of the medical, professional and social rehabilitation was divided into several segments. In this way, regardless of differences in the various procedures of the participants, fair and speedy comparisons of the segments could be established. For example: • Analysis of all the processes and structures of therapy management• Parameters for accident severity and frequency• Resources used (overhead, personnel cost, time)• Assessment of existing management tools Results: None of the participating carriers had the “ideal organization” of his therapy management program. Nevertheless, clear “Best Practice” examples were identified within the respective sub processes. From this, several recommendations were made. The presentation points out the most significant ones. Conclusion: The Benchmarking project was successful. The participating carriers followed the recommendations and thereby increased the efficiency and effectiveness of their therapy management program.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89133483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unfit for work or alternate duties: what predicts the type of medical certificate for injured workers in Victoria, Australia","authors":"R. Ruseckaite","doi":"10.1017/IDM.2014.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/IDM.2014.6","url":null,"abstract":"Background: General Practitioners (GPs) play an important role in worker's treatment and return-to-work (RTW). Objectives: To establish what factors potentially predict the type of medical certification that GPs provide to injured workers following work-related injury. Methods: A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of a number of factors on the likelihood that an injured worker would receive an alternate (ALT) vs. Unfit for work (UFW) duties certificate from their GP. Compensation Research Database, containing claims and medical certification data of Victorian injured workers was accessed for the research purposes. Results: A total of 119,900 claims were included into this study. The majority of the injured workers were males, mostly age of 45–54 years. Nearly half of the workers with UFW and 36.9% with ALT certificates had musculoskeletal injuries. The regression analysis revealed that older males were less likely to receive ALT as opposed to the younger females (25–34 years old) in most occupations. Living in rural areas was associated with smaller odds of receiving ALT. We also found that seeing a GP who is more experienced with workers’ compensation increased the odds of ALT certificates. However, suffering from mental health issues decreased the odds of receiving the ALT in all workers. Discussion: To our knowledge this is the first study to describe factors predicting GP medical certification of injured workers. The results clearly indicate that workers with physical injuries, female workers, and workers visiting GPs with a higher injured worker case load in metropolitan area are more likely to receive an ALT certificate. Conclusions: The findings of this study help to identify groups of injured workers that are less likely to be recommended ALT certificates. It also suggests that certain health service providers and policy makers might require more education on the health benefits of RTW.","PeriodicalId":53532,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Disability Management","volume":"175 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74058889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}