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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
4328.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 4:50 PM

Abstract #113176

Effects of a Workers' Compensation Quality Improvement Intervention in Washington State

Thomas M. Wickizer, PhD1, Gary F. Franklin, MD, MPH2, Robert D. Mootz, DC3, Deborah Fulton-Kehoe, MPH1, and Terri Smith-Weller, MS1. (1) Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Box 357660, Seattle, WA 98195-7660, 206:616-2983, tomwick@u.washington.edu, (2) Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Box 357660, Seattle, WA 98040, (3) Office of the Medical Director, State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries, P.O. Box 44321, Olympia, WA 98503

A major challenge for occupational health is to reduce disability and lost work time among injured workers. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, which administers the state workers' compensation program, has sponsored a community-based quality improvement intervention, known as the Occupational Health Services (OHS) project, aimed at reducing disability and improving outcomes for injured workers. Over 300 community physicians in two pilot sites are participating in the OHS project. Since 2002 when the project began, they have treated over 10,000 injured workers. We administered a survey in 2004 to determine satisfaction among workers treated through the OHS compared to workers treated elsewhere and analyzed claims data to assess treatment outcomes. 993 (45%) workers were successfully interviewed approximately 6 months after injury, including 520 OHS patients and 473 comparison patients. The survey, which had been previously validated, included approximately 50 items asking workers to rate their care or report on different aspects of their care. There were no statistically significant differences in ratings of access to care, overall quality or care coordination. OHS patients were more likely (p < .01) to report the occurrence of communication between their physician and employer compared to patients treated by non-OHS physicians. They were also more likely (p < .01) to return to work for the same employer and to be working for pay at the time of interview. OHS patients were less likely (p < .01) to go on time loss and stay on time loss than non-OHS patients.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

Keywords: Occupational Health Programs, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Cross Section of Worksite Interventions

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA