Comprehensive Disability Management

Comprehensive Disability Management articulates current disability management knowledge and provides insight into new concepts. Practitioners of disability management come from many diverse health and health related professions such as nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, etc. Disability management is an emerging profession without adequate reference materials. As professionals, disability management practitioners have a significant impact on the financial and human costs of disability. Most major corporations have the need for a disability management program and therefore require individuals with skills to perform these functions. The financial costs of disability in corporations are one of the key target areas that require attention. The human costs of disability are also dramatic and efforts need to be made to reduce the impact of disabilities on individuals. The book documents proven techniques in disability management for practitioners in the field. It introduces the first theoretical model in this developing profession and provides practical examples on how to implement and manage an effective disability management program. The approach commences with an overview and the history of disability management as a developing practice area. The authors establish a theoretical base for disability management to guide the activities of practitioners in the field. They then translate the theory into action paradigms and address important issues around the disability management process including role definitions and discussions on key components. The disability management process, including claim initiation, claims management, return to work and rehabilitation, will be discussed. The important aspects of data analysis and quality assurance in program evaluation for this field are also considered. The book addresses the core aspects of disability management knowledge, skills and capabilities and reviews in detail the factors that influence the ability to effectively perform disability management in today's workplaces. It also looks at the interaction of the workplace organization.