Overview
Finally a guide book to help primary care physicians and care providers navigate return-to-work issues. This needed reference is written from the healthcare provider's point of view combining the science with the art of medicine. Physicians and healthcare providers will be shown how to think through the issues of "risk," "capacity," and "tolerance" when negotiating return-to-work and stay-at-work issues with patients.Synopsis
Talmadge (American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians) and Melhorn, an occupational orthopedic physician, delve into the practical aspects of evidence-based medicine, causation, analysis, functional capacity evaluations, and the legal aspects of return-to- work decision making. Early chapters discuss general issues such as concepts of work ability and relevant screening tests and forms. Later chapters cover specific medical and psychiatric problems. The book is designed to be accessible to employees as well as employers, physicians, insurers, attorneys, and worker's compensation managers. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:J. Thomas Pierce, MBBS PhD(Navy Environmental Health Center)
Description:This book aids in teaching physicians and healthcare providers how to think through the issues of "risk," "capacity," and "tolerance" when negotiating return-to-work and stay-at-work issues with patients.
Purpose:It is aimed at helping primary care physicians and care providers navigate return-to-work issues. Its purpose is served by including a concise compilation of current data to improve return-to-work decision-making.
Audience:The audience for this book is split among physicians and other healthcare providers, legal counsel and research staffs, and human resources professionals.
Features:The book includes a step-by-step guide regarding return-to-work decisions. It takes on the difficult issue faced by workers' compensation managers such as "Can I work despite my (fill in the blank)?" The authors and editors believe they have provided realistic answers based upon current science. The book's highlights include a concise compilation of current data and frequent questions faced by physicians and other associated with workers' compensation. It is organized into 20 chapters, 12 chapters on return to work and functional capacity evaluation, evidence-based medicine and legal aspects of decision making, causation analysis, disability perspectives, medications and driving and Social Security. The eight other chapters are system-specific (spine, extremities, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric and chronic fatigue-associated).
Assessment:I particularly like the fact that the editors took on such as broad range of problems -- not only spine and upper extremity concerns, but also those of cardiopulmonary and rheumatologic systems. The book uses not only eminently qualified editors, but a distinguished cast of chapter authors for the 20 chapters.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: J. Thomas Pierce, MBBS PhD(Navy Environmental Health Center)Description: This book aids in teaching physicians and healthcare providers how to think through the issues of "risk," "capacity," and "tolerance" when negotiating return-to-work and stay-at-work issues with patients.
Purpose: It is aimed at helping primary care physicians and care providers navigate return-to-work issues. Its purpose is served by including a concise compilation of current data to improve return-to-work decision-making.
Audience: The audience for this book is split among physicians and other healthcare providers, legal counsel and research staffs, and human resources professionals.
Features: The book includes a step-by-step guide regarding return-to-work decisions. It takes on the difficult issue faced by workers' compensation managers such as "Can I work despite my (fill in the blank)?" The authors and editors believe they have provided realistic answers based upon current science. The book's highlights include a concise compilation of current data and frequent questions faced by physicians and other associated with workers' compensation. It is organized into 20 chapters, 12 chapters on return to work and functional capacity evaluation, evidence-based medicine and legal aspects of decision making, causation analysis, disability perspectives, medications and driving and Social Security. The eight other chapters are system-specific (spine, extremities, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric and chronic fatigue-associated).
Assessment: I particularly like the fact that the editors took on such as broad range of problems — not only spine and upper extremity concerns, but also those of cardiopulmonary and rheumatologic systems. The book uses not only eminently qualified editors, but a distinguished cast of chapter authors for the 20 chapters.
4 Stars! from Doody