Wednesday, April 12, 2017

I’m Referring Business Your Way

So this morning I opened an email from one of DSI’s network of providers and I read the words “I am referring some business your way.” This professional’s work with a company in her community has garnered attention at the company’s corporate level, and she is looking to leverage DSI’s network of providers. I am smiling because I know how DSI can assist her, her client company, many workers, other DSI providers and DSI Work Solutions itself.  I look forward to the work that will begin with my response to her email.
The approach DSI providers use to help employers and workers with work injury prevention and management creates a common bond among us. DSI and its Job Function Matching system offers practitioners/consultants the independence to grow their own customer base while providing the opportunity to interact like a larger company when needed or desired.

It really is awesome.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Privileged and Ready to Share!

I have been privileged to teach hundreds of healthcare professionals Susan Isernhagen’s kinesiophysical method all across the US and Canada- in hospital settings, outpatient centers, and industries of every size. I have been fortunate to be mentored by Susan Isernhagen and educated by other leaders in this field- and also by every healthcare professional, employee, supervisor, safety professional, human resource manager, administrator, insurance rep and attorney I have ever worked with. I hope to share past and current experiences with you as well as perspective on the newest information, research and discoveries through this blog. I hope that this discourse will lead all who read it to innovative ways of thinking as it relates to helping maintain healthy and viable employees and employers. I look forward to your comments- as they will foster continued improvement in work injury management and work injury prevention. 

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Thanks Mom and Dad

I wrote an article for Rehab Management’s March 2017 issue entitled “Are You Managing Your Relationship with Employers?” You can read it here.  The inspiration for this article springs in part from my experience helping patients who are employees, in part from helping employees avoid becoming patients and in part from my childhood.
I am the daughter of two working parents. During my formative years, both Mom and Dad worked in factories and they worked different shifts so that one was home for us kids most of the time.  I remember when my dad was working nights and my mom days. I thought it was great fun to stand on a chair and dry the dishes while my dad washed them… little did I know I was in serious training! I also remember when mom worked nights. I was in grade school all day, and I would try so hard to not fall asleep when I went to bed so I could see her when she got home from work. It usually didn’t work, but sometimes it did! I am so proud of my parents. Their hard work paved the way for our family.  Today every time I am working in a factory setting, I feel that sense of pride and also a sense of responsibility. It is so important to help workers, many of whom are parents of younger children themselves, maintain their ability to work safely and productively. The beauty of this work I do is that what helps the workers also helps their employers!

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for everything. I also thank every patient and worker who has contributed to my knowledge and understanding of the importance of supporting the working community. 

Thursday, March 9, 2017

My Years of Experience

Years of experience using Job Function Matching® and the kinesiophysical approach has given me perspective from many vantage points; employers, employees, healthcare providers, case managers, insurance representatives and even attorneys. I have spent many hours in workplace environments- manufacturing, assembly, logistics, transportation, utilities, schools and more- all across our great nation. I have been a weekly presence in some companies for up to 10 years-through economic downturns and good times. I have analyzed jobs throughout entire plants and worked with design engineers. I have helped employers hire entire shifts and monitored outcomes in the years to follow. I have worked with employees on reasonable accommodations. I have worked closely with case managers on challenging workers’ comp cases. I have helped people get the social security disability benefits that they deserved. This is challenging and inspiring work. I hope I am motivating you to think outside of the box in your own professional work.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

My Professional Bias

Today rehab providers and employers have numerous choices in systems/products/continuing education that provide services such as Functional Capacity Evaluation/Functional Capacity Assessment, Post Offer of Employment Testing, Return to Work Testing, Physical Demands Analysis and Ergonomics. Full disclosure: I am a DSI Work Solutions shareholder.  I have yet to see another system as comprehensive, job specific and user friendly as the DSI Job Function Matching® system.  Job Function Matching® is designed to be a communication tool that links employers, case managers, safety professionals, medical providers, and insurance company representatives to each other and to a common goal: keep employees working- safely, productively and healthy. The Job Function Matching® system addresses ergonomic opportunities, hiring, job placement, job specific training, job specific conditioning, return to work/stay at work and other early intervention strategies that help when employees experience anything from nuisance discomfort to serious injuries and illnesses. Job Function Matching® helps by providing employers with a framework of support for their employees throughout the employment tenure. It does this quite efficiently- thanks to the work of Susan Isernhagen in this most recent version of her world renowned work- developing the kinesiophysical method. The results achieved are measured in cost savings, reduced injuries, reduced lost or restricted time, reduced disability and employee/employer satisfaction.


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

How This Career Path Started

With these first few posts I would like to frame my future perspectives by sharing a bit about my professional life’s work, passion, and background. I am a physical therapist who began this journey into work injury management and work injury prevention with one particular patient. He was my patient for the better part of 6 months. His injury and resulting deficits made it look unlikely that he would return to his job as a power company lineman. HE however, was ADAMANT that he was going back…and that I was to pave his way. That journey with him, before I ever knew anything about Functional Capacity Evaluations or Physical Demands Analysis, opened my eyes to a need. My quest to help workers recover and return to gainful employment had begun. By the way, he did return to his job (with some modifications), and he retired in 2006 on his own terms. He was and still is my touchstone- as my professional journey continues.