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Inter-professional cooperation between family, occupational and social insurance physicians in managing long-term sickness absence
Mairiaux, Philippe; Vanmeerbeek, Marc; Schippers, Nathalie et al.
2014WDPI 2014 - 3rd Scientific conference on Work Disability prevention and integration
 

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Keywords :
Occupational Health; Family physician; Insurance physician; Collaboration; Sickness absence; Disability prevention
Abstract :
[en] Background In the Belgian health system, sickness absence (SA) management implies complementary roles for general practitioners (GPs), social insurance physicians (SIPs) and occupational physicians (OPs): GPs deliver sick notes and treatment, SIPs control SA benefits and OPs strive to adapt work environments to workers’ remaining capacities. In practice however, there is little cooperation between the three physicians. In 2009, the Ministry of Employment commissioned a study to identify GP-OP-SIP cooperation channels in order to prevent long-term work disability. Methods The study involved two phases. 1) Researchers from the three groups agreed on 15 proposals to enhance cooperation: to establish a formal contact between GP, SIP and OP for patients with > 3 months SA (n=3) ; SIP decision to end SA benefit to be forwarded to the GP (n=2) ; work-related information to be provided by the OP to GP and/or SIP (n=4); website giving contact data of GPs, SIPs, and OPs (n=2) ; initial and continuous education focusing on inter-physician cooperation (n=3); electronic data exchange when dealing with long-term SA (n=1). 2) A Delphi study was conducted in 2012 to validate these proposals: 61 experts representing professional groups of physicians (GP, SIP, OP), patients, government, employers and labor unions were asked to participate. A 18-items questionnaire (the 15 proposals and 3 open questions) was used in a 2-round Delphi study. Proposals were accepted if 80% of experts agreed. For drafting the final proposals, the research team relied on a multidisciplinary expert group. Results Participation rate was 77% (47/61 experts) in round 1 and 7 out of the 15 proposals were accepted. During round 2, participation rate was 94% (44/47); 2 of the remaining proposals reached agreement level. Public authorities were thus advised to invest in a) promotion of pre-return to work visit with the OP for sick-listed patients; b) a website with OPs contact data; c) joint guidelines for return to work guidance; d) joint training of the 3 physician groups; 5) methods ensuring safe electronic information exchange. Conclusions The need for inter-physician cooperation in disability management may exceed individual goodwill and should best be organised by public authorities. The current study may be a first step in this process.
Disciplines :
Public health, health care sciences & services
Author, co-author :
Mairiaux, Philippe  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé au travail et éducation pour la santé (STES)
Vanmeerbeek, Marc  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Médecine générale
Schippers, Nathalie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé au travail et éducation pour la santé (STES)
Govers, Patrick ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé au travail et éducation pour la santé (STES)
Mortelmans, Katrien
Language :
English
Title :
Inter-professional cooperation between family, occupational and social insurance physicians in managing long-term sickness absence
Publication date :
30 September 2014
Event name :
WDPI 2014 - 3rd Scientific conference on Work Disability prevention and integration
Event organizer :
University of Toronto (Canada)
Event place :
Toronto, Canada
Event date :
29 septembre 2014 au 1er octobre 2014
Audience :
International
Funders :
SPF Emploi - Service Public Fédéral Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 22 May 2014

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