Outcome study: An industrial rehabilitation program

A review of work hardening outcome research reveals a wide range of return to work statistics between 50% to 80%. Managed care issues are forcing therapy services to objectively quantify their successes to ensure a future in health care. Work Venture has been maintaining program outcome statistics since 1994. In this report, 1997 and 1998 return to work statistics are documented and compared to multiple programs. Work Venture's average annual return to gainful employment percentages for 1997 are 61.2% at 3 months and 61.8% at 6 months, and in 1998, 76.8% at 3 maonths and 76.6% at 6 months after discharge. Many factors are involved in successful return to work with workers compensation claims. Due to these factors it is difficult to compare one program's results with another. It is recommended that a uniform method of collecting and presenting data be developed to ensure valid comparison.