Collaborate for recovery

When things get complicated, the Collaborating for Recovery guidelines contain information on barriers to recovery and social determinants of health, along with talking points for use when communicating with stakeholders, such as the treating provider, to help facilitate return-to-work/function.

To access the guidelines

• Select the Collaborating for Recovery link from the index of clinical content on the Duration tab.

• Or, scroll down to the Collaborating for Recovery section on the Duration tab.

From here, view the different sections on return-to-work, treatment, social determinants of health, and claimant-focused information.

To collaborate for recovery, here are the key things to focus on

1. Look at your individual claim and try to determine what you need clarity on.

   Is it a return-to-work plan? Has there been a stall in treatment? What's preventing the claimant from getting the care they need?

2. Find the section in the guidelines that you need clarity on, for example, Social Determinants of Health.

3. Review the questions for which ones match up or are applicable to what you are finding.

4. Contact your provider by phone or letter according to your organizations best practice recommendations. Try to get answers to the questions you have.

By asking the right questions, you should gain clarity, which can save the added costs of having to send the claim to peer review or for an Independent Medical Evaluation. These discussions can help with return-to-work (modified duty, with restrictions or limitations, or even back to full duty). It can also facilitate adjustments to treatment plan, identify opportunities for social support or referral to community resources, and possible referral to a specialist.