What does an injured worker have to do with the US economy?

In an article written by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) entitled "Healthy Workforce/Healthy Economy:  The Role of Health, Productivity, and Disability Management in Addressing the Nation's Health Care Crisis" the authors highlight the importance of a healthy workforce, and more importantly, the role that RTW can have on the economy, federal programs and the United States' workforce.

Between an aging workforce, increased chronic illnesses among all age groups and people relying on federal programs like Social Security and Medicaid at earlier ages, the future of federal entitlement programs are at a severe risk of bankruptcy.  These programs rely heavily upon the workforce that is contributing to the programs and maintaining what the authors refer to as "a critical balance of net contributors versus net dependents." 

What does an injured worker have to do with the US economy?

Well, if we're doing the right things such as getting the injured worker the appropriate medical treatment, assisting them in their recovery through modified duty work, and returning them to a state of wellness, we are moving in the right direction.  As a result of these efforts, we are returning an otherwise disabled person as a productive, wage-earning, tax-paying contributor to the economy.

Integrating preventative wellness programs, providing modified duty to utilize work as therapy, and assisting employees who are precluded from returning to their pre-injury jobs with alternative employment options or vocational counseling serves an incredibly important role in making sure that our economy continues to grow and that otherwise capable individuals are not becoming dependents.

This is a (very) big-picture approach, but it highlights the importance of modified duty in an injured worker's recovery, as well as the impact it has on society and the economy.