Spooner Physical Therapy and Rehab Specialists Continues to Study Industrial Rehabilitation Best Practices to Help Our Community Employers Reduce Injuries

Spooner, WI (May 9, 2014)– Workers' Compensation cases can be devastating to companies, costing thousands of dollars and lost time. The team at Spooner Physical Therapy and Rehab Specialists (Spooner PTRS) is dedicated to helping employers reduce costs and lost time by offering injury prevention services and rehabilitating injured workers quickly and safely. As the family at Spooner PTRS is always looking for continuous improvement opportunities, several staff members recently underwent a full-day training May 8, 2014 on industrial rehabilitation to better serve our community’s workforce.

According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,000,000 medically consulted injuries caused in the workplace in 2011, costing a total of $188.9 billion. The cost per medically consulted injury, which includes estimate of wage losses, medical and administrative expenses and employer costs, was $37,000. Alongside of these large expenses, it was reported that there were 95,000,000 days lost. Already hosting a thriving industrial program, the Spooner PTRS team members attended the educational summit to help local employers better manage and reduce these numbers.

For workers injured on the job, the clinic offers treatment plans that focus on a patient's specific job functions, while offering proactive communication to the employers, adjustors, case managers, and referring physicians. The clinic holds a strong belief that active communication with all individuals is the foundation for better outcomes that result in workers being fully fit-for-duty. Workers are also educated on how to avoid additional injury through ergonomic assessments and job site visits (with permission from the employer).

Spooner PTRS also offers a variety of resources to employers to put preventive services in place to avoid injuries and OSHA recordables. Programs range from on-site first aid services, functional testing and fit-for-duty assessments, post-offer pre-employment testing, and more. Studies have proven that workers' compensation costs can decrease up to 75% in companies that offer on-site services through physical therapy.

Spooner PTRS is a locally owned-and-operated network of physical therapy clinics with locations in Spooner, Hayward, Turtle Lake, Clear Lake, & Rice Lake, WI and specializes in sports injuries, industrial medicine, injury prevention, orthopedics, vestibular & balance services, postural restoration, and wound care. For more information, visit www.restoringhumanperformance.com or call 715-635-2518.