Research Plus

Cooperative case management

Lack of cooperation between key players has been cited as a common barrier to the success of multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation (VR) programmes. A matched-control study with a six-year follow-up was used to test the effectiveness of a structured multidisciplinary VR programme set up to support municipal workers in Stockholm, Sweden. Case management planning meetings, involving HR, OH, social insurance, the employee and (if requested) the union representative, were held every two weeks and detailed rehabilitation plans drawn up. Crucially, the emphasis was on cooperation, with team members understanding each other’s roles and developing joint responsibility for finding solutions. Sickness absence was significantly lower in the intervention group (p = 0.003) and the average economic benefit of the intervention was estimated at €36,600 per person over the six-year period.

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2008; 40(8); 628–636.     http://medicaljournals.se/jrm/content/?doi=10.2340/16501977-0233

Tags case management evidence based practice Rehabilitation

Occupational Health at Work October/November 2008 (vol. 05/3) pp40-41