Athletic Trainers (AT’s) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. AT’s have unique skills to identify injury risk potentials, create strategies to reduce risk of injury, and promote healthy choices for employees. Incorporating the skill set of AT’s into the workplace has proven to provide not only a reduction in recordable injury rates, but a positive benefit in overall health and wellness for a company’s employees.
Companies that contract for or provide Industrial Health Injury Prevention Services show a significant return on their investment:
- 100% of companies reported a favorable return-on-investment
- 30% indicated the ROI was at least $7/employee per $1 invested
- 83% indicated the ROI was more than $3/employee per $1 invested
- 94% indicated the severity of injuries had decreased by at least 25%
- 68% reported a decrease in restricted workdays and workers’ compensation claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by more than 25%
- 50% reported that the number of injuries decreased by at least 50%
- 46% reported that health care costs decreased by more than 50
(Data obtained by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association through a national survey of industrial companies that utilize the services of an Athletic Trainer.)
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. provides services designed to increase workplace safety through Education, Preparation, Wellness and Rehabilitation. We focus on injury prevention, but also have the expertise to help injured workers recover more quickly.
EDUCATION
Ergonomics Training
Employees receive training in how to fit the work to the worker and best utilize their bodies. Improving workplace ergonomics helps reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders by decreasing at risk behaviors and body positions.
Injury Prevention Education
Knowing the “WHY” is important to employees when changing a potential injury risk behavior. Injury Prevention Education answers the “WHY” by tying together ergonomics with anatomy and physiology to explain the importance of developing safe work habits.
Monthly Health Topics
Employees receive information through presentations, handouts, and other means on topics relevant to injury prevention, general health and wellness, and current “hot” topics.
PREPARATION
Ready for Work Warm-Up
We work with employers to implement a pre-shift warm-up program consisting of stretching and movement patterns that prepare employees for the physical tasks of their job.
New Hire Training
We help in the development of safe work practices of new employees. Reinforcing proper technique early in a new hire’s employment can lower their risk of musculoskeletal injuries that occur as the result of bad work place habits.
Job Demands Analysis
We examine and quantify the specific physical demands required to perform a given job. This information is used to create accurate, objective, and reliable job descriptions.
Post-Offer Employment Testing (POET)
By utilizing the job demands analysis we create and administer a testing procedure to assess if an individual is physically capable of performing a specific job to proactively minimize the risk of injury.
WELLNESS
Non-Recordable Discomfort Management
Early intervention is key to preventing discomfort from becoming a recordable injury. Many forms of discomfort can be managed by our healthcare professionals within the OSHA guidelines for first aid that do not result in a recordable injury. Not only are recordable injury rates decreased, but employee productivity increases when people are working without discomfort.
Injury/Illness Preventative Screenings
Preventative screenings look to identify areas of physical limitations that can be addressed through our strength and conditioning programs. We offer a number of different injury preventative screenings to meet the needs of your employees.
Strength and Conditioning Programs
Healthy employees who exercise regularly have a reduced the number of sick days, improved productivity, and reduced long term health issues and disease. No matter the industry, our experts can be advocates in helping employees improve their overall health and wellness. Programs can be specific to the individual or company wide.
REHABILITATION
Individualized Physical Therapy
Our goal to help the injured worker recover as quickly and safely as possible. Our team of experts utilize the most recent evidence-based skills to create a comprehensive plan to help the injured worker.
Work Conditioning
Work Conditioning utilized the employee’s job description or job demands analysis to create an individualized program to prepare the worker for their return to full work duties. It is a highly structured, goal-oriented program designed to bridge the gap between Physical Therapy and return to work. (learn more here)
Hybrid Conditioning Program
This program combines Physical Therapy and Work Conditioning. Injured workers avoid overall body deconditioning while still having focus on treatment of the injured body part. This program is perfect for post-surgical patients, post-concussion management, and reoccurring injuries.
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs)
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) identifies a person’s level of ability to participate in work. An FCE identifies accommodations or modifications that can be made to keep the worker in the same work or guide alternative work.
Please contact us at deslinger@physicaltherapypt.com or call 612-558-7120 to learn more and to find out what specific services will benefit your business.
Dustin Eslinger, MA, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy February 27th, 2019
Posted In: General
Tags: industrial health, injury prevention, work safe