Allied Health in the RTW Ecosystem
Allied health professionals are an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting and guiding an injured worker toward an effective and sustainable Return-To Work. The It Pays to Care policy stresses the importance of early, evidence-based allied healthcare in work injury management.
Allied health professionals that may be involved in RTW include, but are not limited to:
- Physiotherapists
- Exercise Physiologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Rehabilitation Counselors
The It Pays to Care team is committed to working with allied health providers to support their work injury management capabilities and build awareness of their roles with other stakeholders in the RTW ecosystem. IPTC regularly consults our physiotherapy and exercise physiology advisory groups.
VIDEO: Psychosocial Screening for Physios
Watch a short video that introduces the idea of psychosocial screening for allied health practitioners. The video speaks directly to physiotherapists, but is relevant across disciplines.
This video was produced by IPTC and designed with our Physio Advisory Group.
Maximising Exercise Physiologist Value: An introduction for case managers
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist utilises evidence-based movement and behavioural strategies to improve function, reduce pain, and support recovery and return to work. Knowing when to engage an EP, and for what purpose, can optimise recovery outcomes for injured workers!
The IPTC Exercise Physiology Advisory Group have put together an introductory resource for case managers, presenting some key information on the 'whats' and 'whens' of EP care in work injury management.
What does good physio look like? A quick reference guide for Case Mangers
Case managers are in an important position of oversight over the RTW journey. When an injured worker is utilising physiotherapy, its crucial for case managers to be aware of the effectiveness of care. Quality physiotherapy can mean the difference between a worker returning to duties quickly or a claim extending for months.
The IPTC Physiotherapy Advisory Group have developed a quick reference guide to help case managers identify quality physiotherapy care and take practical steps to support better outcomes.
Deconditioning: The hidden barrier to Return to Work
A common pattern emerges across workers' compensation: workers injured in one specific area often lose overall capacity to be fit for purpose during recovery, creating unexpected barriers to returning to work.
The IPTC Exercise Physiology Advisory Group share important information on the risk of de-conditioning, which can be significantly hinder an injured worker's recovery and RTW journey. They provide strategies that all workers' compensation stakeholders should be aware of.
Physiotherapist Articles
The IPTC Physiotherapy Advisory Group penned a series of articles for the Australian Physiotherapy Association's InMotion publication. The articles address critical areas of psychosocial care for injured workers.
- Working with WorkCover article (introduction to the biopsychosocial approach)
- Breaking Barriers article (on the importance of effective communication)
- Bridging the Gap article (on effectively understanding and collaborating with employers)
Exercise Physiologist Articles
The IPTC Exercise Physiology Advisory Group penned three articles published on the IPTC website. Click the tiles below to view.
At It Pays to Care, we use our expertise to contribute to building knowledge and confidence in the personal injury sector through evidence-based resources that enable professionals to aid worker recovery and return to work.
We'd love to support your team to build capability, improve employee outcomes and save costs. Get in touch to find out how we can help!