Sunday, October 26, 2008
Very different conferences
Attending two conferences in a row can be confusing, but I'm pretty sure the rheumatology session I just attended came out of a MGMA attendee's nightmare.
The purpose of the session was to convince rheumatology health professionals (who are co-meeting with the ACR) to refer their arthritis patients to occupational, vocational and physical therapy if they report any effects of their illness on work performance. The speakers made important points about how early interventions and workplace accomodations can lower overall costs by reducing absenteeism and disability payments.
But I think it's no coincidence that 3 of the 4 presenters were from countries with socialized medicine (England, Canada and the Netherlands). For example, the British speaker described the accomodations required for an office clerk with rheumatoid arthritis, which included a flat-screen computer, a customized ergonomic chair, speech-recognition software and construction of a ramp.
In the UK, she explained, the government will cover a signficant chunk of the modification costs. In the US, I thought, the manager of that office would be cringing even at the recommendation to buy an electric stapler.
Labels: rheumatology, Workplace issues
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
7:19 PM
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Previous Posts
- Drugs, drugs, and...tai chi?
- Physicians using antibiotics, sedatives as placebo...
- Good Samaritans help (when it's needed)
- Cast Your Health Care Ballot
- I'd rather have spam, thanks
- Visiting the dark side at MGMA
- The requisite motivational lecture
- Millennials: demanding what all workers want?
- What the managers are thinking
- One more ill-advised session title
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2 Comments:
Having consulted for 3 large American companies-regarding in part- matters of disability and accommodations for the job,I was impressed with the efforts and cost these companies expended in efforts to keep folks with various impairments on the job.The American with Disabilities Act (1990) is taken very seriously by many companies and many were "on board" even after the earlier Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (for government contractors).
I'm glad to hear that my cynicism may be unwarranted. Thanks for your comment.
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