Equipping Health Professionals to become Return-to- Work Coordinators in Public Hospitals

Transcription

1 Equipping Health Professionals to become Return-to- Work Coordinators in Public Hospitals Heidi Tan Senior Principal Occupational Therapist Department of Occupational Therapy

2 Source: WSH Council Website 1 November 2017

3 The RTW Programme RTW Coordinator acts as the central person to coordinate inputs from various stakeholders to facilitate the worker to RTW. Source: WSH Council Website

4 Value of RTW Program in public hospitals Facilitates early referrals for RTW services - a significant determinant in achieving positive RTW outcomes (Casey at al, 2014). Promotes better integration among interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to focus on RTW goals, and lead to better RTW outcomes (Tschernetzki-Neilson et al, 2007). Early RTW often supports the injured workers medical recovery and enhances their wellbeing (Hoefsmit et al, 2014).

5 Roles of RTW Coordinator Communicate closely with stakeholders Assess the readiness of injured worker to RTW Recommend suitable RTW duties /plan Educate on WICA process Adopt a Systems perspective to facilitate RTW RTWC CARES for the interests of all stakeholders

6 Competency domains of RTW Coordinators in public hospitals Adapted from Shaw et al (2008) and Gardner et al (2010) and based on previous study by Tan et al (2015) RTW focus and attitude Knowledge of medical conditions Knowledge of legal aspects of disability and organisational culture Assessment skills RTW facilitation skills Problem-solving skills Communication skills Conflict resolution skills Interpersonal skills Organisation and administration skills

7 Minimum training requirement of RTW Coordinator MINIMUM TRAINING 1. NIDMAR module B: Introduction to RTW coordination, 2. NIDMAR module K: Introduction to conflict resolution, and 3. 2-day local RTW Coordinator training workshop conducted by TTSH, Department of Occupational Therapy. Post workshop assessment requirement: Meet criteria for MCQ and case study assignment MODE 1. On-line 2. On-line 3. Classroom * The National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) is an internationally recognized education, training and research organization and is primarily focused on the implementation of workplace-based reintegration programs

8 Day 1 RTW models and legislation Introduction to Work Injury Compensation Act by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) representative

9 Day 1 Interviewing and setting RTW goals Small group role play on initial interview with injured worker

10 Day 1 Panel discussion on RTW What s your stake? panel discussion between RTW stakeholders including ministry, employer, doctor and union member

11 Day 2 RTW plans Big group discussion on RTW barriers and facilitators and RTW plan

12 Day 2 Conflict resolution Big group role play on conflict resolution with injured worker and employer

13 Objective of study The objective of this study is to explore if the structured training workshop increases selfperceived rating of competence among health professionals as RTW coordinators.

14 Methodology Participants who were planned to take on the RTW Coordinator role and attended the workshop completed a pre and post workshop survey to rate their self-perceived: Level of competence on a categorical scale in the 10 competency domains: 1 to 3 (limited competence) 4 to 6 (adequate competence) 7 to 9 (proficient competence) Overall confidence level to take on the RTW Coordinator role on an ordinal scale from 0 to 10.

15 Results 3 runs of workshop from Novenber 2017 to June 2018

16 Results

17 Percentage change 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Percentage Change of 10 Competency Domains Knowledge of Legal Aspects RTW Facilitation Skills RTW Focus Assessment skills Problem-solving skills Interpersonal Skills Communication Skills Organisation & Administration Skills Conflict Resolution Skills Knowledge of Medical Conditions 20% 10% 70% 62% 56% 49% 41% 26% 23% 23% 22% 16% 0% 10 COMPETENCY DOMAINS

18 Discussion The RTW Coordinator workshop enabled participants to gain more confidence in all ten competency domains with the adequate competence category Healthcare professionals taking on the role of RTW Coordinator had the least confidence in knowledge of legal aspects, RTW facilitation skills and RTW focus Their confidence in the three domains had the highest percentage change after the workshop

19 Discussion Key components of workshop that attributed to the change: 1. Introduction to local work injury legislation by Ministry of Manpower representative 2. Panel discussion with various stakeholders 3. Practical sessions with structured frameworks: RTW focused- interviewing and communication, RTW goal-setting and planning

20 Discussion To further improve the self-efficacy and competencies of healthcare professionals as RTW coordinators, workplace training and assessment in managing diversity of RTW cases and continuous learning through community of practice for RTW coordinators would be beneficial.

21 Future plans Training of other health professionals involved in the medical and rehabilitation of injured workers in hospitals, such as doctors, nurses, doctors, rehabilitation professionals. Training of non-healthcare professionals at the workplace, such as human resource, safety officers, supervisors, etc.

22 Healthcare and Workplace Partnership in RTW HEALTHCARE WORKPLACE

23 RTW Coordinators Team Co-investigators: Joanna Giam and Shermaine Lim

24 References Gardner B, Pransky G, Shaw W, Nha Hong Q. & Loisel P. Researcher perspectives on competencies of return-to-work coordinators. Disability And Rehabilitation. 2009; 32(1): Shaw W, Hong Q, Pransky G & Loisel P. A literature review describing the role of return-to-work coordinators in trial programs and interventions designed to prevent workplace disability. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2008; 18(1): Tan HSK, Yeo DSC, Giam JYT, Cheong FWF & Chan, KF. A randomised controlled trial of a Return-to-Work Coordinator model of care in a general hospital to facilitate return to work of injured workers. Work. 2016;(54):

25 THANK YOU