Identifying Light Duty Positions and Restricted Work Programs

04/22/23

Identifying Light Duty Positions Identifying Light Duty Positions and Restricted Work Programsand Restricted Work Programs

Phyllis Guarin RN, CLNCPhyllis Guarin RN, CLNCNNMC BETHESDANNMC BETHESDA

04/22/23

What Is What Is Federal Employees’ Compensation Act?Federal Employees’ Compensation Act? Provides benefits for civilian employees of the Provides benefits for civilian employees of the

United States who have suffered work-related United States who have suffered work-related injuries or occupational diseasesinjuries or occupational diseases

Intended to be remedial in nature and Intended to be remedial in nature and proceedings under it are non-adversarialproceedings under it are non-adversarial

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Likelihood of RTW Dependent Likelihood of RTW Dependent on Duration of Disabilityon Duration of Disability

> 6months - 50% chance of return> 6months - 50% chance of return

> 1 year - < 10% chance of return> 1 year - < 10% chance of return

> 2 years - very slight chance of ever > 2 years - very slight chance of ever returning returning

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THE AVERAGE COST OF A THE AVERAGE COST OF A CLAIM INCREASES 1-3% CLAIM INCREASES 1-3%

FOR EVERY DAY FOR EVERY DAY REPORTING IS DELAYED REPORTING IS DELAYED

FROM THE DATE OF INJURY FROM THE DATE OF INJURY

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Workers’ Compensation CostsWorkers’ Compensation CostsFYI 07/01/01 to 06/30/02FYI 07/01/01 to 06/30/02

020,000,00040,000,00060,000,00080,000,000

100,000,000120,000,000140,000,000160,000,000180,000,000

Navy Army USAF

MedicalCompFatal Cost

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Goals of NNMC FECA ProgramGoals of NNMC FECA Program

Reduce compensation costs and lost work Reduce compensation costs and lost work daysdays

Promote full-compatible return to workPromote full-compatible return to work

Assist with recovery of injured employeeAssist with recovery of injured employee

Improve access to careImprove access to care

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NCM ResponsibilitiesNCM Responsibilities Manage Workers’ Compensation ProgramManage Workers’ Compensation Program Organize/maintain databaseOrganize/maintain database ICPA & agency liaisonICPA & agency liaison Coordinate care from DOI to RTWCoordinate care from DOI to RTW Assist supervisorsAssist supervisors Develop Return To Work (RTW) programDevelop Return To Work (RTW) program Reduce comp costsReduce comp costs Educate employeesEducate employees Educate supervisorsEducate supervisors

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NNMC Costs for New Workers’ NNMC Costs for New Workers’ Compensation ClaimsCompensation Claims

MedicalMedical 00 $27,27900 $27,279 01 $6,94601 $6,946 02 $4,71902 $4,719

****NNMC has 100% NNMC has 100% RTW rate for new RTW rate for new cases 03/00 to cases 03/00 to 07/0307/03

CompComp 00 $24,90800 $24,908 01 $4,94001 $4,940

02 $3,151 02 $3,151

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Return to Work Risk FactorsReturn to Work Risk Factors IndividualIndividual::

Age Age (risk > with age)(risk > with age)

GendeGender (risk > with females)r (risk > with females)

Psychosocial: Psychosocial: personality traits, depression, personality traits, depression, coping ability, socioeconomic status, job coping ability, socioeconomic status, job dissatisfactiondissatisfaction

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Return to Work Risk FactorsReturn to Work Risk Factors JOB:JOB:

Job or task demands:Job or task demands: frequent or frequent or prolonged repetitive movements, awkward prolonged repetitive movements, awkward postures, extreme temperatures, design of postures, extreme temperatures, design of workstation or equipmentworkstation or equipment

organizational structureorganizational structure

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Early Return To WorkEarly Return To WorkBenefits To EmployeeBenefits To Employee

Accelerate/improve recoveryAccelerate/improve recovery

Promotes better morale among all workersPromotes better morale among all workers

Improve morale and self esteem for injured Improve morale and self esteem for injured employee employee

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Maintain an Experienced Work ForceMaintain an Experienced Work Force

Maintain Production, Workflow and Quality Maintain Production, Workflow and Quality StandardsStandards

Stabilize Wage and Production ExpensesStabilize Wage and Production Expenses

Early Return to WorkEarly Return to WorkBenefits to EmployerBenefits to Employer

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Return to Work AssessmentReturn to Work Assessment

Physician should include:Physician should include:

Medical HistoryMedical History

Pre-existing condition or recurrencePre-existing condition or recurrence

Injury in performance of duty stipulationInjury in performance of duty stipulation

Labs, x-rays, MRI results, etcLabs, x-rays, MRI results, etc

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Return to Work Assessment cont.Return to Work Assessment cont. Referrals to Ortho, PT/OT, etcReferrals to Ortho, PT/OT, etc

Amount of anticipated lost timeAmount of anticipated lost time

Duty Status Report (CA-17)Duty Status Report (CA-17)

Diagnosis for on-the-job injuryDiagnosis for on-the-job injury

Correct physician referral for injuryCorrect physician referral for injury

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Identify a Suitable PositionIdentify a Suitable Position Assess degree of recovery for:Assess degree of recovery for:

current positioncurrent position

modified current positionmodified current position

employment in another position - equal payemployment in another position - equal pay

employment in another position - lower payemployment in another position - lower pay

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Identify Suitable PositionIdentify Suitable Position Identify potential positions:Identify potential positions:

Compatible with limitationsCompatible with limitations

Check agency or job pool for positionCheck agency or job pool for position

Coordinate with Human Resource Office Coordinate with Human Resource Office and agency personneland agency personnel

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Elements of a Job OfferElements of a Job Offer

Description of duties and salaryDescription of duties and salary

Physical requirementsPhysical requirements

Location of job and term of the jobLocation of job and term of the job

Start date / Date for response Start date / Date for response

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Return to Work ProcessReturn to Work Process Employee’s Response:Employee’s Response:

AcceptanceAcceptance

No ResponseNo Response

Refusal with No ExplanationRefusal with No Explanation

Refusal with ExplanationRefusal with Explanation

RetirementRetirement

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Final ActFinal Act

Position is accepted by physician, DOL, agency and employeePosition is accepted by physician, DOL, agency and employee

Employee starts workEmployee starts work

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RETURN TO WORK GOALRETURN TO WORK GOALThe success efforts to return employees to The success efforts to return employees to

gainful employment while providing gainful employment while providing procedural due process requires close procedural due process requires close cooperation between employing agencies cooperation between employing agencies and OWCP.and OWCP.

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Return to Work from Long Term RollsReturn to Work from Long Term Rolls NCM reviews long term rolls for:NCM reviews long term rolls for:

Over 70 y/o or PN on chargeback rolls Over 70 y/o or PN on chargeback rolls Current medicalCurrent medical

DeathDeath Change in marital statusChange in marital status Light duty availabilityLight duty availability Rehab and retrainingRehab and retraining

RetirementRetirement

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Aids to Return to WorkAids to Return to Work

Second Opinion Exam-requested by Second Opinion Exam-requested by agency-determined by DOLagency-determined by DOL

Functional Capacity Exam-what can the Functional Capacity Exam-what can the employee doemployee do

Vocational rehabilitation-work hardeningVocational rehabilitation-work hardening

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ResourcesResourcesJob Accommodation Network (JAN)-Job Accommodation Network (JAN)-determines accommodation for disabilitiesdetermines accommodation for disabilities

http://www.jan.wvu.eduhttp://www.jan.wvu.edu

Computer Accommodation Program (CAP) Computer Accommodation Program (CAP) http://www.tricare.osd.mil/cap/http://www.tricare.osd.mil/cap/

Federal Disability information Federal Disability information http://www.opm.gov/disability/hrprohttp://www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro

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ResourcesResourcesDOL-Dictionary of Occupational TitlesDOL-Dictionary of Occupational Titleswww.oalj.dol.govwww.oalj.dol.gov

Free Federal HandbooksFree Federal Handbookswww.federalhandbooks.comwww.federalhandbooks.com

Official Disability GuidelinesOfficial Disability Guidelineswww.DisabilityDurations.comwww.DisabilityDurations.com

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A Successful FECA ProgramA Successful FECA Program

Strong Command SupportStrong Command Support Motivated Team PlayersMotivated Team Players Improved CommunicationImproved Communication Model Case ManagementModel Case Management Light Duty Program/RTW ProgramLight Duty Program/RTW Program Investigative TeamInvestigative Team Training and Education of StaffTraining and Education of Staff Access to CareAccess to Care

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QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Phyllis Guarin, RN, CLNCPhyllis Guarin, RN, CLNCPhone# 301-319-4554Phone# 301-319-4554

FAX# 301-295-0473FAX# [email protected]@bethesda.

med.navy.milmed.navy.mil