ODG in Action Supporting Favorable Return to Work Outcomes

The following is an example of the success of collaboration of objective evidenced based disability guidelines with the Physician of Record through the OHP Disability Management Program.

The OHP Disability Management Program inherited a Workers’ Compensation claim that was 21 months old. The claim had exceeded the evidenced based duration of disability guideline by 358 days. The Disability Management Coordinator provided the Physician of Record, in letter form, the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) evidence based guideline, the actual restricted duty and lost time days, and the variance that had occurred to date. This letter also requested an action plan for returning this claimant to full duty[1]. Within 41 days, the physician release the injured worker back to full duty and no exacerbation has occurred to date.[2]

This case is a prime example that providing the medical personnel with objective national standards results in an expeditious return to work, benefitting both the employer and the injured worker.

Though ODG is available to the medical community, it is not always utilized to the benefit of the employer and the ultimate goal of a successful and safe return to work outcome.



[1] **ODG letter was written to physician of record on 7/20/07. We received a response on 9/4/07 releasing the injured worker to full duty in response to the ODG letter.

[2] Allowed Condition: 726.32 Lateral Epicondylitis
ODG Guidelines for Allowed Condition: 21 Lost Work Days and 42 Restricted Duty Days
Actual Outcome: 18 Lost Work Days and 444 Restricted Duty Days (over life of the claim)
402 Restricted Day Variance – 3 Days of Lost Work Day Variance = 399 Disability Day Variance