Are there differences between industrial rehabilitation and regular outpatient therapists?
Yes, the primary difference being the amount of time focused on dealing with the injured worker population and all of the parties involved. Not all therapists understand the needs of all of these parties (i.e., insurance adjustors, case managers, physicians and employers) in the workers’ compensation cases. This lack of understanding and specialization in a general clinic often leads to inefficiency and ineffectiveness for those professionals with an interest in the case outside the clinic. Time is critical in workers’ compensation cases. Phone calls, timely and objective documentation and teamwork are especially important. An effective industrial rehabilitation clinic and its therapists understand this facet of industrial rehabilitation. Therapists who do not have this training or are unwilling to be an active member of the “team” cost insurance companies and employers financially and can undermine the therapeutic care of the injured worker.
