Showing posts with label rtw. Show all posts

Friday, May 12, 2017

Workplace Solutions that work for everyone

PROFESSIONAL, REHAB, & OCCUPATIONAL SERVICES

As an employer or supporting professional, you naturally want to do all you can to resolve your workplace issues, claims or productivity concerns in a timely, cost-effective fashion. The good news is we are here to help!

We offer a range of services to help you address concerns in the workplace, not currently addressed by vocational rehab, EAP, or disability programs. Our experienced consultants can provide you or your workers with the information necessary to put your concerns to rest.

JOB READINESS TRAINING is an inexpensive and interactive job readiness guide along with a 4-week job readiness training program. Through this program, an injured worker who cannot return to work learns how to search for and apply to jobs, build a resume and cover letter, and learn interviewing skills to give them the knowledge they need to return to work after an injury or disability.

LABOR MARKET SNAPSHOT can be used to aid in settlement and may allow you to close your files without formal vocational involvement. This service can be used in conjunction with Job Readiness training to document the employer’s interest in returning the worker to the workforce.

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT provides assistance in planning for a return to work after an injury or disability (or other absence). This customized program will achieve a safe and successful return to work.

CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS DEBRIEFING: It seems that “Critical Incidents” are becoming more and more common, even in industries where there isn’t much-perceived risk involved. Naturally, employers may not be trained to help themselves or their employees when a catastrophic event happens at work or to a well-regarded employee.

SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION can be requested when we are not the first called at the time of trauma, and it may be days, weeks, or months later when employers recognize that an employee is ailing. Our staff can intercede briefly to identify and remove obstacles that are interfering with productivity.

ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENTS keep workers where they should be - at work and being productive! Can also be useful tools in new hiring and with workers returning to the workplace following injury/illness.

ADA ASSESSMENTS help ensure the employer is doing everything possible to maintain compliance.

Tapping into these resources will further demonstrate the employer’s commitment and foresight of addressing concerns proactively and mitigating or avoiding claims. We work cooperatively with other companies, and work with the adjuster, assigned nurse case manager or vocational counselor to make sure they have the tools and resources needed to resolve their cases quickly. PROS is always available to assist you in any way possible.

Need help on a claim covered by a national carrier? No problem! We can tap into our network of trained consultants and are affiliated with national and regional vocational service providers. Still not sure if we can help? - just email or call to talk about it. Or, if you prefer, let's meet in person.

116 FRONT ST, UNIT 737, LEWES, DE 19958

PHONE 410.444.1989

FAX 302.258.0856

WWW.LIFE-WORKS.INFO

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Is Maryland Voc Rehab Changing?

I have worked in the Maryland Workers’ Compensation arena for around 20 years now. I (like you, I am sure!) have seen many changes and have proudly been a part of numerous transitions.

However, it seems that Maryland is currently moving away from its focus on returning the injured worker to suitable gainful employment. Now, it appears, cases are settled more often than not – at the potential expense of the injured worker.

I have had the luxury of working with many great professionals understand the benefit of keeping the injured worker’s focus on return to work from the date of injury. Short-term benefits include having a concrete goal and fending off depression. Long-term benefits include increased self-esteem, a more complete medical recovery, and one less person on public assistance.

Typically, it is pretty clear from the first report of injury that the injured worker is or is not going back to work. Developing a plan for return to work as soon as possible will make a case easier to manage, possibly contributing to a quicker, cheaper resolution.

Under the changing system, addressing vocational needs of an injured worker is no longer the norm. There are a number of reasons for this, and likely the most salient is a matter of dollars and cents.

No one gets paid until the case is settled, including the injured worker. I get it. We all get it. However, it need not take longer or excessive cost to ensure that the injured worker gets, at a minimum, some job seeking skills training, a resume, and labor market information if he cannot return to work with his employer.

Large referral sources have told me that they are no longer offering vocational services at any point, let alone before MMI and settlement. Instead, they are waiting for plaintiff counsel to demand it and most don’t.

Not long ago, not one Commissioner would even have considered allowing a settlement without RTW being addressed. It was commonly understood that medical rehabilitation alone was not enough to return an injured worker to his or her best level of functioning. What has changed?

Are we now giving them money and send them on their way - medically rehabilitated and with a fistful of dollars that will not last and without a way to support themselves and their family?

I am at a loss to understand how such a cutting edge and considered Workers’ Compensation System could now be so mundane and indifferent toward its constituents. Being isolated as I am in my relatively rural location, I was unaware that the issue was as a more widespread.

Recently, I have found that other colleagues have noticed the same tendency. An additional, somewhat disturbing trend is that insurance companies are primarily referring to a handful of large Rehab Providers to the near exclusion of small or sole proprietors.

I have received only plaintiff generated referrals over the past two years. Until recently, I assumed this was MY problem and have only now found that other providers of similar size are experiencing the same issue.

I cannot help but think that this is not in the best interest of Maryland’s injured workers. A variety of approaches, personalities, and standard operating procedures ensures a more personalized and effective relationship with the injured worker.

My colleagues and I are deeply troubled by this change and hope to initiate at least a dialogue that will spark a change for the better treatment of Maryland’s injured workers. We are, as a group, committed to providing any knowledge, expertise, or effort required to ensure that vocational rehabilitation is provided to our injured employees and taxpayers in the State of Maryland.

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM

Certified Disability Management Specialist

Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile: 410.444.1989

Let’s Connect: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

If you haven’t already, please check out our two signature products – used together they can be powerful tools for settlement!:

Labor Market Snapshot

Job Readiness Training for groups and individuals

FYI:

I handle Delmarva Peninsula and the area immediately around the Chesapeake Bay, I work well with both defense and plaintiff attorneys and can handle any file in Baltimore or DC if requested – I never bill more than 2 hours travel.

Pat Highcove and Dane Crook are both based in Mary and each have over 20 years of experience and excellent reputations with both defense and plaintiff attorneys. Primarily they handle Baltimore and DC, but can do parts of Western MD, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Western NJ if needed.

We also are partnering with Kim Sellers, a nurse case manager based in Mechanicsburg, PA who covers most of Pennsylvania and Maryland! She has tons of CAT experience in addition to routine medical management.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Monday Mission

You should check out the Weekly Works for a newspaper/magazine style presentation of information related to job search – Click The Weekly Works from www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com/p/weekly-works.html to visit the magazine anytime.

The Members Only Page will take you to more resources. Don’t forget to log in using your email and password “Sevinsky”.

Make sure you can locate the documentation needed for the Federal I-9 form (usually a driver’s license and birth certificate; or a passport). Either bring ONE document from List A or ONE EACH (2 total) from List B or List C:

· List A Documents

· List B Documents

· List C Documents

Starting a new job is stressful enough (good stress, but stress nonetheless!) – no need to feed the fire!

For those of you on the shore – there is a very large career fair in Ocean City, MD on March 17^th 9 am to 1 pm. If you live within 1 ½ hours it would be appropriate for you to attend: http://chamber.oceancity.org/events/details/2011-ocean-city-job-fair. Here are some links to Career Fair Tips to review:

WHAT NOT TO DO AT A CAREER FAIR
CAREER FAIR TIPS

Mary is a Masters-prepared Career Counselor with over 18 years experience in resume writing, personal branding, career assessment and counseling. Specializing in non-traditional specialized careers and career-transitioning, she has the ability to synthesize and focus your unique skills and abilities to obtain interviews for the positions you want with the employers you want to notice you. Follow her on Twitter at @MarySevinsky.

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