Question 1

What workplace disability indicator can provide the earliest information about the effectiveness of the disability management program?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

What is an example of light-duty work, assigned due to a back injury, which does not involve work hardening?

Accepted Answer

Light-duty work involves modifying an employee's duties to accommodate their injury. Shifting a road worker to manage road signals is a light-duty task that doesn't involve work hardening, which is a physical therapy program designed to help injured workers return to their full duties.

Question 3

What should supervisors avoid saying when the injured worker comes back to work?

Accepted Answer

While it is important to show concern for the injured worker's well-being, supervisors should avoid prying into their medical treatment or therapy program. This information is private and should only be discussed between the worker and their healthcare provider. It is more appropriate to ask about any work restrictions or accommodations that may be necessary. Option A is a common question to ask but may put pressure on the worker to report feeling better than they actually are. Option C could be interpreted as criticism or more workload, causing stress to the worker. Option D should be avoided as it could make the injured worker feel like a burden to others.

Question 4

What is the key benefit to the worker from integrated claims management?

Accepted Answer

Integrated claims management streamlines the process, leading to quicker resolutions and reducing the time workers spend waiting for their claims to be processed.

Question 5

Who is often overlooked when planning modified work arrangements for an injured worker?

Accepted Answer

While it is important to involve the worker's family, family physician, and union representative in planning modified work arrangements, coworkers are often overlooked. Coworkers can be instrumental in helping the injured worker transition back to work and ensuring a smooth and successful return.

Question 6

How does case management facilitate the recovery of an injured worker?

Accepted Answer

Case management facilitates recovery by coordinating care from different providers, ensuring that the injured worker receives all necessary treatments and services, and avoiding duplication or gaps in care. This helps to improve the quality of care and ultimately speed up the recovery process. In addition, case managers can also provide emotional support and advocacy for the injured worker, which can be important factors in achieving successful rehabilitation and returning to work.

Question 7

For supported and sheltered work, what is likely to be required to meet the duty to accommodate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For supported and sheltered work, what is...

Question 8

Read the following scenario and answer questions.
Organizations have a long history of managing returns to work involving cases of physical disability. However, evidence from WCBs across Canada shows that claims involving disability due to mental health issues are the fastest growing segment of disability claims. Heavier workloads from flatter organizations and hiring freezes have put increased pressure on workers in many industries. Information and communication technologies have greatly increased the pace of work and blurred the boundaries between work time and non-work time (family time, leisure time, or community time). Mental health absences from work can also be as a result of being involved in or seeing a traumatic incident in the workplace.
-In a case involving a mental health disability, what would receive more consideration under the systems approach than under the full recovery model?

Accepted Answer

The systems approach considers the interaction between the worker, the workplace, and the community. The availability of local anxiety/depression counsellors is a community factor that would be considered under the systems approach.

Question 9

What was the key event in Vancouver Coastal Health's overhaul of their disability management program?

Accepted Answer

Vancouver Coastal Health's key event in overhauling their disability management program was bringing the program in-house, which allowed for more direct control and management of the program.

Question 10

In the business case for disability management, what is an intangible benefit of effective disability management and return-to-work programs?

Accepted Answer

Improvement in the company's reputation is an intangible benefit as it enhances the company's image and goodwill, which are not directly measurable in financial terms.

Question 11

Tarek is returning to work after three months off for carpal tunnel treatment, culminating in surgery. What organizational practice may sabotage his return by making him feel stigmatized?

Accepted Answer

Posting photos of workers with perfect safety records may make Tarek feel stigmatized by highlighting his absence and condition as a failure to maintain a perfect record, potentially leading to feelings of inadequacy or exclusion.

Question 12

Read the following scenario and answer questions.
Organizations have a long history of managing returns to work involving cases of physical disability. However, evidence from WCBs across Canada shows that claims involving disability due to mental health issues are the fastest growing segment of disability claims. Heavier workloads from flatter organizations and hiring freezes have put increased pressure on workers in many industries. Information and communication technologies have greatly increased the pace of work and blurred the boundaries between work time and non-work time (family time, leisure time, or community time). Mental health absences from work can also be as a result of being involved in or seeing a traumatic incident in the workplace.
-What can Raul insist on receiving under the duty to accommodate his return to work from a depression- related absence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Read the following scenario and answer questions.
Organizations...

Question 13

What is another term for "gradual work exposure"?

Accepted Answer

Gradual work exposure is commonly known as work hardening, which involves gradually increasing the level of physical and/or cognitive demands on an individual until they are deemed ready to return to work full-time. Work trials involve the individual attempting various job tasks to determine their suitability for the position. Work rehabilitation involves a comprehensive program that may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other interventions to help an individual return to work. Phased return to work involves a gradual increase in work hours or duties following an illness, injury, or disability. While all of these options may be used in a return-to-work program, work hardening specifically refers to gradual work exposure.

Question 14

What is the key benefit to senior management from integrated claims management?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the key benefit to senior...

Question 15

Who has less power in the return-to-work decision than in the past?

Accepted Answer

The employee's physician has less power in the return-to-work decision than in the past due to changes in policies and practices that emphasize standardized guidelines and employer-driven programs.

Question 16

When must employees consent to information being shared between the return-to-work coordinator and a healthcare provider involved in their recovery or rehabilitation?

Accepted Answer

Consent must be obtained for any and all information that might be shared to ensure privacy and confidentiality are maintained, respecting the employee's rights.

Question 17

Pareto analysis is also known as the 80/20 rule; historically 20% of people/equipment/customers account for 80% of outcomes. In what disability management best practice would Pareto analysis be a useful tool?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pareto analysis is also known as the...

Question 18

Roohani is returning to work after a month and a half. What stage would her absence fall into, according to the textbook?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, subacute is defined as the stage between acute and chronic, typically lasting one to six months. Roohani's absence falls within this timeframe.

Question 19

What is the key function of a return-to-work coordinator?

Accepted Answer

The key function of a return-to-work coordinator is to ensure ongoing communication between the various stakeholders involved in the return-to-work process, facilitating a smooth transition for the injured employee.

Question 20

Read the following scenario and answer questions.
Organizations have a long history of managing returns to work involving cases of physical disability. However, evidence from WCBs across Canada shows that claims involving disability due to mental health issues are the fastest growing segment of disability claims. Heavier workloads from flatter organizations and hiring freezes have put increased pressure on workers in many industries. Information and communication technologies have greatly increased the pace of work and blurred the boundaries between work time and non-work time (family time, leisure time, or community time). Mental health absences from work can also be as a result of being involved in or seeing a traumatic incident in the workplace.
-In the case of a mental health disability, what is most likely to be the key driver of the costs associated with a chronic mental health disability?

Accepted Answer

Wage replacement costs are typically the largest component of costs associated with chronic mental health disabilities, as they cover the income of employees who are unable to work for extended periods.

Quiz 13: Disability Management and Return to Work