WORK RELATED SERVICES

Work...is the means by which people structure and define their lives. When individuals are unable to work there is not only financial cost, but also physical, emotional, and psychological cost.

FACTS CHALLENGING THE WORKPLACE:

• Disability disrupts work for 90% of the working population.
• Downsizing results in more work with greater physical and mental stress experienced.
• With the aging population, workers over 55 hold a greater percentage of the workforce.
• The ADA requires reasonable accommodation to enhance employment opportunities. The implementation of W -2 adds a new group to the workforce.
• Work related injuries cost this country an average of $53 billion per year.
• 92 million work days are lost per year due to low back pain.
• OSHA reports 10 million work related injuries per year, 30% are severe.

CONSEQUENCES OF WORK DISRUPTION:

• Loss of jobs.
• Temporary or permanent disability. Loss of income.
• Poor self-esteem.
• Deconditioning.

THE EFFICACY OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:

Occupational therapists provide preventative, evaluative, remediative, restorative, and compensatory services that are designed to improve the functional work status of individuals in all age groups. Work related services in many settings, including, but not limited to, acute care, and rehabilitation facilities, industrial and office environments, work-evaluation and work-hardening programs, sheltered work programs, school-to-work transition programs, psychiatric treatment centers, programs for the elderly, educational systems and home environments.

IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE CHANGING WORKFORCE...

• Insure a smooth, rapid and safe transition into the workforce by addressing problems such as low self esteem, severe deconditioning, disabling pain, fear of injury.
• Educate and instruct in injury prevention, safety, proper body mechanics, postural awareness, joint, protection, and symptom awareness.
• Facilitate the development of physical tolerances for work including flexibility, strength, and stamina. Perform functional capacity evaluations to determine workers' ability to return to work.
• Assist in developing appropriate work behaviors, such as punctuality and good relationships with co­workers.
• Provide on-the-job training and evaluation.
• Develop supported employment placement through the use of job-site analysis and job coaching. Conduct ergonomic evaluations to recommend modifications which improve workplace safety.
• Assist employers in compliance with the ADA to eliminate architectural barriers and provide reasonable accommodation.

For further information or a referral, please contact us.

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