Mr Edward Schutz - Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons offers an Occupational Medicine Course for Surgeons designed to assist surgeons better understand the nature of the work that patients perform and the return to work process after surgery. The course consists of workshops held in factories and other worksites and half day seminars at regular RACS conferences. The program has been spearheaded by Mr Ted Schutz and supported by the Medico Legal Section. It is designed with the dual aims of giving surgeons first-hand experience of various work situations and an understanding of the tasks performed by a patient under a job title.

How do you assist an injured worker back to work?

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons offers an Occupational Medicine Course for surgeons designed to assist surgeons better understand the nature of the work that patients perform and the return to work process after surgery. The course consists of workshops held in factories and other worksites and half day seminars at regular RACS conferences. The program has been spearheaded by Mr Ted Schutz and supported by the Medico Legal Section. It is designed with the dual aims of giving surgeons first-hand experience of various work situations and an understanding of the tasks performed by a patient under a job title.

Describe what you do differently in the way you manage return to work compared to other treating health practitioners to achieve better outcomes?

The aim of the program is provide the opportunity for surgeons to learn what they can do to best assist workers and management in the return to work process. Participants have an increased knowledge of worksites and associated tasks, increased awareness of task adaptation and improved understanding of communication channels and roles. This can enable surgeons to assist patients to return to work more quickly and safely than may otherwise have been the case. Participants also gain a greater awareness of the psychological, social and financial benefits of a successful return to work.

Provide an example of a great return to work outcome or initiative you've achieved/developed?

The workshops provide a practical experience of the interaction between workers and management at all levels of industry and allows surgeons to see what they can do to make the most difference for everyone involved in the return to work process. Each workshop includes a tour of a worksite to observe how tasks are performed and might be altered to accommodate different physical needs. It also includes discussions with Return To Work Coordinators and recovering workers to elicit the positive strategies that have contributed to a successful return to work.

What’s the secret to success of your return to work initiative and/or as a treating health practitioner?

The success of the initiative is surgeons' improved knowledge and confidence in industry and in treatment of their patients in the workplace. This enables improved recognition of the contribution and communication between surgeons, their patients, industry and insurance. The workshop series was initially trialled in Victoria; has since been expanded to other states with other conveners. The model could be used by other Colleges and Medical Practitioner organisations. To date the College has held six workshops in Victoria, two in NSW and one in SA. Four more workshops are planned for 2012, and half-day seminars in Occupational Medicine.

Where possible please provide information that will support your entry, this could include return to work results.

The College has demonstrated a strong commitment to return to work through developing and organising this course to help surgeons to help patients return to work after surgery in a more supported and efficient manner. The College is also currently considering its position on endorsing the Australian and New Zealand Consensus Statement on the Health Benefits of Work; the position statement by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians: Realising the Health Benefits of Work, 2010.

*Disclaimer:
The publishing of entries on the WorkSafe Awards website and or/the granting of an award does not constitute any endorsement by WorkSafe Victoria of a product, method or service, or the occupational health and safety performance of the workplace. Monthly Champions must undergo expert review to progress through to the stringent validation and judging process and can only progress to the next stage of entry once WorkSafe are satisfied that the entry/entrant has met the relevant award category criteria and terms and condition of entry.

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