This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded project evaluates an innovative health care delivery and financing intervention with the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). In collaboration with Mount Sinai School of Medicine, workers in NYC's garment industry received expedited access to timely treatment for occupational carpal tunnel syndrome. The intervention circumvented the greater than 400-day average delay in Workers' Compensation (WC) approval. Results are presented from a combined retrospective/prospective analysis of this largely immigrant population. These low-wage workers are predominantly older, female, and non-white (90% Latino, 10% Asian) and non-English speaking. The majority of study participants are sewing machine operators (76%) with an average tenure of 20 years in the garment industry. Clinical and functional status at diagnosis, as well as workers' perceptions of the program's impact on health outcomes, quality of life, work status, and quality of care are analyzed. Results show that workers have suffered severe financial hardships as a result of their occupationally-related condition (46% used up their savings, 29% lost their medical insurance due to their injury). Study participants continue to have substantial impairment 2-3 years after filing their WC claim (mean SF-12 score, physical functioning is 25, p<.0001 compared to general US population score of 50). Most were no longer able to work at diagnosis and many never returned to work (83%). Comparative results from a sample of non-immigrant computer users are presented, documenting large social and economic disparities between these two high-risk groups of workers filing WC claims. Policy implications are discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to: 1. Acquire knowledge about garment workers' perceptions of a WC program. 2. Acquire knowledge about a comparative sample of computer users' perceptions of a WC program. 3. Identify social and economic disparities between these two high-risk groups of workers filing WC claims
Keywords: Workers' Compensation, Occupational Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.