The Trust recently held a program for physical therapy providers on the topic of “Workspeak”. In attendance were 58 physical therapists, all of whom participate in the Trust’s managed care network. Robb Wright OTRL, our Return to Work Specialist and Angelica Mack, an attorney from Letizia, Ambrose & Falls presented information to the group.
The WorkSpeak presentation was designed after reviewing hundreds of physical therapy notes and realizing that details as to work restrictions and work demands were missing. The notes also did not reflect work specific therapy goals, nor indicated any sense of what was needed to allow for successful return to work.
The intent of the WorkSpeak program was to spark a greater awareness to improve documentation as to the physical demands the injured worker requires in order to resume work activities. If done well, it further directs the physical therapist to detail not only the work injury and symptoms but also the worker’s job and functional requirements. The therapist can then use these pieces to provide updates as to worker recovery and work readiness.
The attendees were encouraged to engage the injured workers they treat, detail functional abilities relative to work performed and serve as a resource over time to assure success once the patient returns to work.
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