Maximum Medical Improvement or MMI is tricky for most injured workers.  Even though it means the injured worker is medically improved to the maximum amount, it often leaves injured workers and their attorneys wondering... What's next?  The answer is simple.  Vocational Rehabilitation. 

Managed Care Organizations will rarely go out of their way to seek injured workers that have been found MMI to refer them to voc.  Most of the time, they consider their job of medically managing the claim to be finished.  What about the injured worker?  What happens to him or her?

MAKE A REFERRAL TO IVS FOR VOC REHAB SERVICES
If you or your client has been found MMI and have permanent work restrictions, make a referral into vocational rehabilitation.  At IVS, we can help injured workers identify their functional capacity, their transferrable skills, and perhaps get additional skills through a work adjustment program.  All of this leads to a job search and job placement to ultimately help them get back to work within their new physical restrictions. 

VOC REHAB MEANS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
Once in an approved voc rehab plan, an injured worker will receive living maintenance compensation.  Remember, IVS is an advocate for the injured workers.  Read more about the IVS DIFFERENCE.

If you are MMI and need help on the next step, complete the intake form online.  An IVS staff member will submit your request to the appropriate people and contact you shortly.

Our case managers carefully review & consider all available relevant information, such as injured workers’ physical abilities and limitations, job history, wage history and need for retraining.  They may also order additional evaluative services if necessary, such as an FCE (functional capacities evaluation and/or vocational evaluation) in order to recommend the most effective rehabilitation services. 

Although, the last step in the vocational rehabilitation process is usually job placement and on-the-job-follow up, before injured workers can participate in job placement it is imperative that they have a clearly defined feasible vocational goal based on their skills and /or training, physical abilities, wage expectations, and economic conditions.  If injured workers are unable to return to any of their previous occupations, the IVS case managers offer all available appropriate services to help injured workers decide their new vocational goal and prepare for such goal.

Case managers have to follow applicable rules and laws and accordingly work together with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) and managed care organizations who issue approvals for all services that the case managers may recommend.   The IVS case managers take great care in providing all necessary information and justification that the BWC and MCOs may need in order to approve the recommended services. 

Working with injured workers can be challenging in today’s job market and political environment.  Pat Hulec, an IVS case manager, recently shared a success.  We are so proud of our clients and admire their strength and courage.  Thanks Pat for sharing, and congratulations on your successful case closure.  

A STORY FROM CASE MANAGER- PAT HULEC
I began working with a new, young client about 3 years ago. She had recovered from the physical injury, a gunshot wound, but developed prolonged Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression.  She and her psychologist believed she was ready to "return to the living".  She hadn't combed her hair in a year. I gave her two choices for work adjustment locations. She visited both and chose Townsend. 

WORK ADJUSTMENT HELPS INJURED WORKERS ADAPT TO NEW ENVIRONMENTS
At Townsend, she completed 12 weeks of work adjustment.  Work adjustment gave her the opportunity to adjust to getting out, keeping a schedule and returning to a normal routine which included being around others including strangers.  I have to give great big giant kudos to Townsend.  They were of immense benefit working with the anxiety.  While at Townsend, they recognized and fostered her talent, leadership skills and smarts.

VOCATIONAL EVALUATION IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL 
After work adjustment, she worked with another vocational professional completing a vocational evaluation.  The vocational evaluation identified how bright she is and a recommendation for advanced training was obtained.  A career counselor provided guidance in identifying a new career path.  The right path for her was in health care.  Ultimately, she was provided support for LPN training. Even though she clearly had the ability to achieve RN, BSN, she agreed and pursued License Practical Nurse training because of the time limits of training.

TRAINING IN OHIO VOC REHAB PROGRAMS
I went with her to help her sign up for her classes.  A few weeks later I met with her.  She told me she had made a friend!  It was awesome. She ultimately gathered a group of high achieving single women around her as a study group.  She became their leader and is still connected with them today.  She earned nearly straight A's, was elected the student representative for the Ohio Board of Nursing, and was the valedictorian speaker at commencements. 

JOB PLACEMENT WITH A DEGREE
After her degree, she worked with a job placement specialist.  She began work this month as an LPN and plans to continue her education. She has the ability to earn a Master's Degree in Nursing and will most certainly advance into a management role of some sort.  I am preparing to close her case...maybe today! 

“The right service at the right time with the right professional is critical to success.  Vocational rehabilitation is so much more than job search- it is a collaborative effort to achieve job readiness.  It is the Vocational Rehabilitation Case Manager who pulls it all together.”  Pat Hulec

Welcome to the IVS blog!  So many things are happening in Ohio Voc Rehab.  If you are an attorney, physiciaion, injured worker, or case manager provider, check back regularly for good information and updates.