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• 09:17 30 Nov 2011

  Study finds investing in occupational health "best practices" improves outcomes for injured employees

  Source: Medical Care

  A new study of occupational health care in Washington State shows that improving medical care for injured employees can dramatically reduce lost work time. The study is published in the December 2011 issue of the American Public Health Association journal, Medical Care. Dr. Gary Franklin, medical director for the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), which enforces the state's occupational safety and health standards, was one of the researchers involved in the study.

  "Work-related disability is a major public health problem that's largely overlooked in the U.S.," Franklin said. "This study shows that using occupational health best practices when treating injured employees can have an important effect on their recovery."

  L&I's community-based Centers of Occupational Health and Education (COHE) work with medical providers to encourage the best ways to treat injured employees. These "best practices" focus on the safe, healthy return of injured employees to full function and full employment. The study found that injured employees treated by health-care providers operating under COHE best practices had 19.7 percent fewer disability days than other injured employees receiving treatment, and a reduction in total disability and medical costs of $510 per claim. Employees suffering from back strain had a reduction in disability days of 29.5 percent. Read the news release for more information.

  View Full Article: http://www.lni.wa.gov/News/2011/pr111130a.asp