Even in the most conscientious work environments, accidents can happen. When an employee is injured on the job, there are a variety of concerns for both the employee and the employer.
The injured employee wants to heal as quickly as possible in order to resume employment, keep up with daily responsibilities, and to preserve his or her lifestyle. Employers need their workers to return to work fully healthy and as quickly as possible in order to maintain workplace productivity and to control costs.
According to research conducted at the University of California at Davis, U.S. employers reported more than nine million workplace injury cases in 2007, the year prior to the study. That number represents an estimated cost to the national economy of more than $250 billion annually. It’s a staggering sum that we all feel and pay for, in the form of higher prices on goods and services as well as longer wait times for getting the things we need.
Of course, preventing accidents in the first place is the best way to control costs and protect workers. Workplace safety training that addresses a variety of potential accident situations can help to reduce employee injuries. When an accident does occur, however, employers and employees alike need to know what to do. Appropriate treatment delivered in a timely way can mean quicker and more complete healing. Studies show that the sooner an employee can return to work, the better the medical outcome.
The physiatrists at YRMC PhysicianCare and the Physical Rehabilitation Department at Yavapai Regional Medical Center agree that the best thing to do is to get the injured employee to an occupational medicine expert as soon as possible.
Physiatrists are medical doctors who have completed specialty training in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They are nerve muscle, and bone experts who treat injuries or illnesses that affect how people move – the type of injuries often associated with workplace accidents. These doctors are trained to accurately pinpoint the source of the problem and then design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the rehab team.
Rehabilitation physicians treat any disability resulting from disease or injury, from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries. They focus on the development of a comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person’s life back together after injury or disease. They also rely on proven outcome measures to evaluate and demonstrate a patient’s progress from the start of treatment to the completion of therapy.
The team in the Physical Rehabilitation Department at YRMC is a very skilled group of physical, occupational and speech therapists experienced in the treatment of a full range of injuries, including back and neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and soft tissue injuries. They also address balance, dizziness and vertigo problems.
The treatment plan designed for a given patient might also include other physicians and health professionals, such as neurologists and orthopedic surgeons as well as physical therapists.
YRMC has the largest physical therapy team in the region, but still delivers very personalized one-on-one care with the objective of helping people get back to their lives as quickly as possible – a win-win for employers and employees. QCBN
Dr. Bradley Benson specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at YRMC PhysicianCare in Prescott. He is a graduate of Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. He completed a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
Someone hurt on the job can receive care from Dr. Benson with or without a referral from a primary care physician. To expedite the delivery of care, appointments can be made directly with Dr. Benson’s office in Prescott where often, the injured employee can be seen and treatment started immediately. To schedule an appointment, call 928-445-4818.
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