Getting Your Patient Back to Work: Writing Return-to-Work Restrictions After Illness or Injury

Getting your patient back to work after an illness or injury is often complicated. Optimal functional outcomes have been linked to the patient being able to return to work as soon as possible after rehabilitation or illness. The challenge is to write restrictions that can be understood and implemented by both the employee and employer for safe return to work. Many factors affect the recovery process. The health care provider plays a significant role in helping the employee make the transition back to his or her job. Teamwork is the key to a successful return-to-work program.