The physician's role in helping patients return to work after an illness or injury

This policy addresses the role of attending physicians in assisting their patients to return to work after an illness or injury. The physician's role is to diagnose and treat the illness or injury, to advise and support the patient, to provide and communicate appropriate information to the patient and the employer and to work closely with other involved health care professionals to facilitate the patient's safe and timely return to the most productive employment possible. Carrying out this role requires physicians to understand the patient's roles in the family and the workplace. It requires physicians to recognize and support the employee-employer relationship and the primary importance of this relationship in the return to work. Finally, it requires physicians to have a good understanding of the potential roles of other health care professionals and employment personnel in assisting and promoting the return to work.