Bridging the gap: Hospital to workplace

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Matheson, Leonard N.

Affiliations: EPIC Neurorehabilitation & Psychology Services, Inc., Chico, CA, USA. E-mail: mathesonleonard@gmail.com

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Work-oriented neurorehabilitation to return to competitive employment after a serious neurologic illness or injury is an interdisciplinary process that begins as soon as pathology has stabilized. OBJECTIVE: This bimonthly column provides narratives of anonymized clients in situations that challenge their return-to-work. Each case study is designed for postgraduate education about tools and methods that are appropriate to consider in similar situations. METHODS: Through case studies of adults attempting to return to safe and dependable competitive employment, real-world issues are explored that occur at the interface between the client and their employer. RESULTS: The current case describes Structured Task Self Appraisal (STSA), a forensic rehabilitation method to collect self-report baseline information concerning the client’s job-relevant functional limitations. STSA guides return-to-work rehabilitation services. CONCLUSION: Information concerning the core tasks and important abilities of the client’s target occupation that are immediately available in O*NET can be analyzed in a structured manner to provide the workplace context for rehabilitation.

Keywords: Neurorehabilitation, work capacity evaluation, cognitive functional capacity, work disability, competitive employment, case study, occupational information network, O*NET

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230361

Journal: Work, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 1031-1038, 2023