The Personal Physician's Role in Helping Patients With Medical Conditions Stay at Work or Return to Work.

T he personal physician has a role in assisting his or her patients minimize life and work disruption resulting from new injury or illness, changes in chronic health conditions and existing disabilities, or the advance of age. (The term physician is used throughout this document for simplicity and ease of reading, but was not intended to exclude other clinicians who often take care of injured workers. When this term is used, consider that the guidance provided also applies to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, chiropractors, psychologists, and other health care providers in a treating role.) This means helping patients maintain their daily routine as much as possible, and for working patients, helping them stay at work or return to work as soon as it is medically viable. In order to discharge these responsibilities appropriately, it is important that physicians appreciate the importance of work to human life and well-being. In addition to providing money for necessities, work adds meaning and purpose to life and is an important source of individual identity. Studies show that worklessness (lack of work) increases morbidity and mortality and results in decreases in mental, family, social, and economic well-being. A study found that 60% to 80% of lost workdays attributed to medical conditions in the United States involved time off from work that was not really required by the condition itself. Some work disability is necessary such as when there are unavoidable health or safety risks inherent in the