Rapid Response Physio - Three years and counting

Why is this service needed? 

In 2017, Employ Health analysed injury and compensation claim data published in Australia. There were disproportionately high injury rates and compensation claims for mobile, lone, rural, remote and shift workers. We were also seeing a trend of inferior injury and return to work outcomes for workers who were injured when Employ Health wasn’t physically onsite and able to provide effective early intervention. A solution was needed.

What is Rapid Response Physio?

Employ Health’s Rapid Response Physio service provides assessment and triage for sprain or strain incidents delivered by the phone. The service makes sure:

• - Injured workers are responded to rapidly through an early intervention model.
• - An injured worker is provided with a rehabilitation plan and receives prompt and ongoing follow up with their physiotherapist. This may be face to face at one of our onsite clinics or ongoing through our Telehealth service.
• - Where appropriate, we will work with the employer to provide occupational interventions
• - There will be pathways in place for onward referral to medical services, if required.
• - The worker’s company and supervisor will be liaised with regarding the worker’s ability to perform their duties.
  
  

Can Physiotherapy be effective over the phone?

• - Research from the UK has indicated that physiotherapy assessment and triage over the phone is an effective form of treatment. This research was conducted over a period of 10 years across 15 different public health catchment regions.
• - Research in Australia has noted that phone based physiotherapy services remove traditional barriers to service delivery, such as time and distance, for those outside of metropolitan areas.
• - In the field of occupational health and injury management, phone based physiotherapy services have had marked success internationally. This is exemplified by work done at the Staffordshire County Shire Council, where a rapid response physiotherapy service that begins with telephone triage saved over 1000 lost work days per month. This equates to over $200,000 saved by the council monthly.
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• At Employ Health, we’ve seen one of our valued partners able to go one year Loss Time Injury (LTI) free through effective use of the Rapid Response Physio service

How does a workplace take advantage of this program?

The team at Employ Health have been working diligently to provide and continue to develop this unique and visionary service. If you feel that your workplace would benefit from this service email Employ Health at admin@employhealth.com.au.