The Work Injury Problem

Everyday, injuries with minor and major catastrophe's are reported costing the system and employers at large, in the excess of ------ billions, from profits drained from the net income of small and large U.S businesses, government and municipalities. While most of the cost are usually computed to include the cost of direct cost of medical, rehab lost wages, and indemnities; a significant aspect of work injury expenses are normally indirect costs to the employer from lost time, light duty, rehire and training of a temporary worker, low work morale and decrease productivity. While most work injury cases are valid and required medical attention; a significant number of cases are mismanaged for lack of a comprehensive process. Most employers in good faith invest in programs to manage their work injury cases. However, a substantial amount of programs are reactionary and lack comprehensiveness, leadership, effective policies and procedures to have the impact other than keeping up with paper trail.


The problem lies in the disconnect with key players that are necessary to drive the system as part of the organization culture; a way the organization does business. Until it is openly accepted from top to bottom and nurtured with priority, giving it life to live on, a program is considered to be reactionary and ineffective.


Organizations should be rest assured that a simple cost effective investment on such a process is tantamount to an ounce of prevention; an invaluable measure for companies with high turn over rates and aging population with moderate physical demand jobs. Why not?
Dr. Diallo, PT,DPT
www.ezrehabsolutions.com