Reduce the costs of workplace in

	Reduce the costs of workplace injuries!

The longer an individual remains off work, the less likely s/he is |to return to employment of any kind. The individual who is out of work for 6 months has only a 50% chance of ever returning to work! And the odds go down from there.

There are two types of patients who are unable to work;

1. those with serious injuries and/or illnesses with obvious
impairments, and

2. those with less severe conditions in which many patients with
similar problems will continue to work.

According to recent studies, the national average lost time claim is more than $19,000 in medical and indemnity payments. This is in contrast to the average medical only costs of $400 (Macher, 1998).

It is generally agreed that, "...it is usually in the patient's best interest to remain in the workforce." (Talmage and Melhorn, 2000). In fact, it has been stated that, "You don't get injured workers well in order to return them to work. You return them to work in order to get them well."

References;
Macher A. Annual Statistical Bulletin. Boca Raton, Fla: National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc; 1998
Talmage JB, Melhorn JM. A Physician's Guide to Return to Work, AMA Press, 2005