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Advantages of the JobReha discharge letter: an instrument for improving the communication interface in occupational rehabilitation

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Abstract

Purpose

Systematic collaboration between occupational physicians (OPs) and rehabilitation physicians (RPs) can improve occupational rehabilitation processes and outcomes. The JobReha discharge letter (JR-DL) is a key element of JobReha, a multilevel intervention for specific occupational rehabilitation of workers with musculoskeletal disorders. This feasibility study aims to analyse the perceived benefit and acceptance of the JR-DL as an instrument for improving the communication interface between RPs and OPs.

Methods

On the day of discharge from rehabilitation, the rehabilitation physician completed a JR-DL form containing relevant information on the rehabilitation measures undertaken during treatment and recommendations for return to work. The JR-DL was either transmitted to the patient’s occupational physician directly or given to the patients to bring to the OP to support the reintegration process. The JR-DL as an instrument for improving the communication interface was evaluated using data from patient questionnaires (n = 250), JR-DLs (n = 247), OP questionnaires (n = 224) and RP questionnaires (n = 232).

Results

All rehabilitation physicians sent a JR-DL to the respective occupational physician on the day of discharge. OPs received the reports a median 2 days after discharge. The content quality and relevance of the JR-DL for the reintegration process were rated high to moderate by more than 97.0 % of the OPs; 92.3 % of the patients received a recommendation to return to their previous workplace; 43.3 % returned with minor limitation; and the remaining 31.6 % with a recommendation for individual reintegration; 74.0 % of the workers returned to work within 3 days of discharge.

Conclusions

Use of the JR-DL for the improvement of communication and exchange of relevant information is feasible and supportive for both rehabilitation and occupational physicians. Its positive impact on reintegration and return to work was apparent. Delays in receipt of the JR-DL should be eliminated by appropriate quality assurance measures.

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Notes

  1. As discharge from rehabilitation was usually on a Friday or Saturday and return to work on the following Monday, there generally was not enough time for regular postal delivery.

  2. 200 complete data sets based on data from the OP and RP questionnaires were available for analysis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the patients who participated in the JobReha project. We would also like to thank the many occupational and rehabilitation physicians who recruited participants and implemented the JobReha concept as well as the members of the working group who developed the JobReha programme: Dr. Thilo Busche, Martin Stumpf, Karin Roske, Nicole Noll, Markus Jähnke, Dr. Heinz-Hubert Daalmann, Heiko Wehe, Dr. Detlev Kasprowski, Thomas Henke, Anke Eisenhauer, Norbert Cordes, Norbert Giesen, Jürgen Rodewald, Albrecht Jacobs, Dr. Wilhelm Moesch and Thomas Schröder. This work was funded in part by the German pension insurance fund Brunswick-Hanover.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Medicine, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Hannover, Germany

    Michael Spallek & Frank Teumer

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Coordination Centre for Applied Rehabilitation Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Monika Schwarze, Christoph Korallus & Christoph Gutenbrunner

  3. Occupational Medicine, SNL Human Resources, Deutsche Post, Bonn, Germany

    Ingra-A. Manecke

  4. Institute of Occupational Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Renate Wrbitzky & Thomas Rebe

Authors
  1. Monika Schwarze
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  2. Michael Spallek
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  3. Christoph Korallus
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  4. Ingra-A. Manecke
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  5. Frank Teumer
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  6. Renate Wrbitzky
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  7. Christoph Gutenbrunner
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  8. Thomas Rebe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Spallek.

Additional information

M. Schwarze and M. Spallek contributed equally to this work.

Ethics approval: The Ethics Committee of Hannover Medical School granted ethical approval for the study (No. 4436/06).

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Schwarze, M., Spallek, M., Korallus, C. et al. Advantages of the JobReha discharge letter: an instrument for improving the communication interface in occupational rehabilitation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 86, 699–708 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0805-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0805-1

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