Treating Injured Workers: Beware of returning to work too soon

Today's tip for healthcare professionals treating injured workers deals with the problems that can arise when an injured person returns to work too soon.

In the haste to get back to work and to a steady paycheck, people can cause irreversible physical damage, and they may also jeopardize their ability to collect on a workers' compensation claim.

• Some injured workers will want to return to work before they are medically able to do so. While injured workers are justified in their fear of reprisal for missing work because of an injury, strongly discourage them from returning to a job for which they are physically unprepared. Candidly explain the risk of re-injury. And while it’s true that some people are fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim – even though the law forbids such retaliation – being fired is preferable to derailing recovery or creating a worse medical problem by returning to work too soon. Let your patients know that there is legal recourse if they are fired. Patients can file a wrongful termination claim themselves with the Industrial Commission, but many will find it helpful to have an attorney advocate on their behalf.

You can find my entire series of tips here, and stay tuned throughout the week for more advice on helping injured workers under your medical care.