Work Rehabilitation

Work conditioning

Work conditioning is a less intensive type of a WR program. It is a structured, goal-oriented rehabilitation program that focuses on improving a person’s physical capacity and endurance to help them safely return to work.

Work conditioning consists of physical therapy and occupational therapy and is intended for workers with lighter job demands. The program ranges from 2-4 hours per day, 3-5 days per week.

Work hardening

A work hardening program is a more intensive type of WR program. It consists of physical therapy and occupational therapy to get a worker back to heavier work levels with more advanced and specific job simulations. There could be other employment issues or barriers to recovery that may need to be addressed.

Individuals may also receive behavioral health services to support return to work. This program is 2-8 hours per day, 3-5 days per week.

Program criteria

In order to qualify for the Work Rehabilitation program, patients must:

• Have a referral by an attending provider.
• An identified return to work goal with a job description that describes the physical demands of the job.
• A diagnosis that is a musculoskeletal disorder impacting their ability to return to work full duty
• Have had at least two months of recovery since their initial injury, which may include participation in standard outpatient therapies.
• The individual is able to participate for a minimum of 2 hours a day, 3-5 days a week.