Setting up a modified work program

In 1988, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) imposed a surcharge of C$420,000 on Centenary Health Centre (CHC), a 500-bed, acute-care facility in Scarborough, Ontario, because of the hospital's poor accident rate in 1987. This financial jolt propelled the senior management of CHC to take remed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:OH&S Canada 1993-11, Vol.9 (6), p.52
Main Author: McKay, Irene
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Cost control
Disabled workers
Hospitals
Occupational hazards
Occupational health & safety
Safety management
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Summary:In 1988, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) imposed a surcharge of C$420,000 on Centenary Health Centre (CHC), a 500-bed, acute-care facility in Scarborough, Ontario, because of the hospital's poor accident rate in 1987. This financial jolt propelled the senior management of CHC to take remedial action that led to a financial turnaround over the next 4 years, resulting in a C$620,000 WCB rebate in December 1992 and an overall savings of more than a million dollars to date. The imposition of the surcharge forced CHC's administrators to take a close look at how WCB claims were managed and how to identify some root problems. For example, upon returning to work, disabled employees were not provided with any physical or vocational support. The manager of the occupational health department decided to establish an in-house rehabilitation unit to provide modified work and on-site physiotherapy. The approach involved: 1. setting goals and objectives, 2. promoting the program, 3. establishing a team, 4. getting everyone involved, and 5. obtaining input. In addition to financial savings, the program has a 99% success rate of returning employees to their pre-injury job using a modified work approach.
ISSN:0827-4576
1923-4279