Early Work-Related Interventions in a Medical Rehabilitation Setting

Abstract

AbstractEarly work-related interventions are extremely difficult when an employee is on long-term absence and in medical rehabilitation because of a severe illness or injury. The role of the medical rehabilitation setting is often focused on care and cure; there is little focus on work and work resumption. In this respect health care can hinder employees in their work resumption and in their focus on work. In this study, an intervention was undertaken to increase the focus on return to work in the medical rehabilitation setting with the aim of an integrated approach to return to work. The intervention was carried out in eight rehabilitation settings. During implementation, four different organisational models related to the return-to-work activities were recognised, varying from an integration of return-to-work activities within medical rehabilitation to a complete separation of the medical rehabilitation and the return-to-work activities. Every centre reported an increase of work-related activities and an increase in the return-to-work rate of employees was found.