Effectiveness of the U.S. Public Health Service Occupational Illness and Injury Contingency Management Process (OPTICOMAP) in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fleet Operations.

摘要

In 1987, the U.S. Public Health Service implemented a case management process (OPTICOMAP) in a maritime operational setting; this process was designed to address the complex problems faced by occupationally injured or ill employees, restore them to their full potential, and return them to the work force. The purposes of this study were to describe OPTICOMAP, to develop an evaluation program of this process, and to apply the evaluation procedure to the 100 cases from 1985-86 (pre-OPTICOMAP) in comparison with the 123 cases from 1987-88 (post-OPTICOMAP). Results of comparisons between samples determined that ratings became more positive after OPTICOMAP implementation for almost all criteria: adherence to the case management, return-to-work plans, role fulfillment of key participants, time lost from work, duration of cases, and labor costs. Significantly more opportunities for light duty were available during the post- then pre-OPTICOMAP period. The average number of days lost from work decreased during the post-OPTICOMAP period, and all injured employees returned to work. These results provide strong support for the implementation of OPTICOMAP and return-to-work plans. Keywords: Occupational disease; Management planning and control, Case management, Cost containment.