Disability Case Manager: Full Member of the Revalidation Team

Vocational Rehabilitation

vocational rehabilitation, back-to-work, social participation, disability case manager

The first 4-6 months after an incident which caused a handicap or chronic disease, it is important to involve and motivate patients to return to work. After this period, there is a major decrease on successful vocational reintegration. To facilitate vocational rehabilitation a Disability Case Manager (DCM) may play a major role. The DCM will act as key figure between the patient, the multidisciplinary team of the revalidation centre, the employers and other back-to-work services. There is need to provide evidence on the value of this program. The aim of this study is to test the added value of including a DCM in the classic revalidation trajectory, who will focus on early vocational and/or social rehabilitation.

12.5% of the population is confronted with a handicap or chronic disease which complicates quality of life, including the professional activities. 58% of this group is unemployed or inactive. The first 4-6 months after an incident which caused a handicap or chronic disease, it is important to involve and motivate patients to return to work. After this period, there is a major decrease on successful vocational reintegration. After 1-year unemployment, vocational reintegration decreases to 20%, which means an early intervention is recommended. The classic rehabilitation trajectory is for the greater part directed at regaining patient's independence concerning daily activities, housing conditions, hobbies and its family. Revalidation is not (or only in the end) focused on back to work. The revalidation centre Sint-Ursula, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt developed an interdisciplinary methodology 'Back-To-Work', which included an early focus on vocational and/or social rehabilitation using a 'Disability Case Manager (DCM)'. The DCM act as key figure between the patient, the multidisciplinary team of the revalidation centre, the employers and other back-to-work services to facilitate return to work. The program is initiated by an interdisciplinary screening at time of hospitalisation. Together with the patient, there can be chosen for two revalidation pathways: 1/ focus on vocational rehabilitation; or 2/ focus on social participation. The labour pathway includes the matching of the persons characteristics and capacity with the requirements of the job, followed by a task-oriented vocational training; the social participation pathway consists of guidance to alternative daytime activities combined with psychological support in coping and acceptance. The combination of these components with the focus on vocational rehabilitation and social participation is new in rehabilitation services. Previous research, testing the involvement of a DCM, showed empirically better results, with more patients going back to work or choosing an alternative job. Even when back to work was eventually not possible, those patients reported a better quality of life. This project aims at a scientifically validation of the 'Back-To-Work' methodology and the role of DCM. Patients with complex neuro-locomotoric conditions and amputations, aged between 18-62 years, will be asked to participate in a controlled, longitudinal study, receiving either a revalidation therapy including the experimental 'Back-to-work' methodology (Jessa hospital, campus Sint-Ursula) or a standard revalidation therapy (Revalidation & MS Clinic Overpelt, control group). At the start of rehabilitation, at the end of rehabilitation and 6 months after rehabilitation, data for qualitative and quantitative analysis is gathered.

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