What are they?
A reference source that provides disability duration figures for normal recovery periods for a variety of work-related injuries, including minimum, optimum and maximum duration expectancies based upon job classifications. It may include recommendations on appropriate rehabilitation therapies, frequency, and duration of treatment, appropriate specialties for treatment, possible complications, important factors that may influence the length of disability, and suggestions for appropriate work restrictions and accommodations.
Why use them?
From a Medical Case Management standpoint it's helpful to establish realistic goals with the Injured Worker and medical providers in order to set the foundation for measuring progress toward these goals, as well as establishing the basis for clarifying the role of the various healthcare providers, and the Injured Worker's role in achieving established goals. Each party's responsibilities are then further clarified by the Medical Case Manager Care Plan in order to realize the medical recovery goal within an expected time frame. This also allows for a concerted team effort by all participants, and most importantly the Injured Worker..
My motto is: If you have no plan, your plan is to fail.
There are a variety of disability guideline products available. Two of the most popular are the Medical Disability Advisor (MDA), and the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG).
