Health practice and management
Health-care providers and health-care services play an important part in the return to work (RTW) of injured workers and in disability management processes at workers’ compensation boards in Canada. IWH research supports front-line health-care practitioners—including primary care physicians and allied health-care professionals, who support or treat workers with injuries and illnesses that affect their ability to work.
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Research Highlights
Telementoring program addresses return-to-work challenges for Ontario health-care providers
An IWH study has found that Ontario health-care providers face a range of challenges when treating workers with a work-related injury or illness and helping them return to work—a telementoring program called ECHO Occupational Environmental Medicine helped providers overcome some of these challenges.
Published: July 8, 2025
At Work article
How employers are improving RTW outcomes for public safety workers with PSTI
Public safety employers face a range of challenges when supporting workers to return to work after experiencing a post-traumatic stress injury. Employers have developed strategies to face these challenges, as outlined in a recent IWH Speaker Series presentation.
Published: March 12, 2025
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Health-care providers and their role in return to work
Research around the world has shown that health-care providers have a key role in the return-to-work (RTW) process. However, pressure on consultation time, administrative challenges and limited knowledge about a patient’s workplace can thwart meaningful engagement. In a two-year study conducted in four Canadian provinces, Dr. Agnieszka Kosny focused on the experiences of health-care providers within the workers’ compensation system and their role in the RTW process. She shares her findings in this plenary.
Published: February 2017
At Work article
Health professionals report uncertainty over roles in RTW of workers with complex injuries
Case managers and health-care professionals share their thoughts about doctors' role in the workers' compensation system.
Published: February 2017
IWH in the media
Doctors frustrated workers’ compensation boards seem to ignore medical opinions, report says
The Toronto Star interviews Dr. Agnieszka Kosny about the findings of her study on the role of health-care providers in workers' compensation and return-to-work.
Published: The Toronto Star, January 2017
Project report
Project report
Role of health-care providers in the workers' compensation system and the return-to-work process: executive summary
Health-care providers play an important role in the return to work of injured workers, yet research suggests they sometimes struggle with this responsibility. This executive summary provides an overview of the findings of a study on health-care providers' experiences in return to work and in working with workers' compensation systems.
Published: December 2016
Project report
Project report
Role of health-care providers in the workers' compensation system and the return-to-work process: final report
Health-care providers play an important role in the return to work of injured workers, yet research suggests they sometimes struggle with this responsibility. This report shares the findings of a study on health-care providers' experiences in return to work and in working with workers' compensation systems. It also suggests practices and policies that may help clarify the role of health-care providers and make workers’ compensation systems easier to navigate for all stakeholders.
Published: December 2016
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
What are physicians told about their role in return to work?
Physicians have an important role in the return to work (RTW) process, but research shows that they sometimes struggle to manage RTW consultations and help patients return to work after an injury. As part of a broader exploration into the role played by doctors in RTW, an IWH team led by Dr. Agnieszka Kosny sought to examine resources, policies and guidelines that have been developed for physicians by workers’ compensation boards, governments and other organizations across Canada. In this plenary, Kosny highlights resource gaps that may hinder physicians’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the workers' compensation system and RTW process, and which may ultimately delay workers’ RTW after injury.
Published: November 2016
At Work article
DASH developers credit groundwork and ongoing support for measure’s 20-year success
In its 20th anniversary year, the DASH Outcome Measure continues to be used in ever broader contexts.
Published: April 2016
IWH in the media
Study looks at relationship between employers and doctors in return to work
A key element of a successful return to work is a good, communicative relationship among the injured worker, the employer and the worker’s doctors. But a study found the relationship between employers and doctors can be marred by mistrust and lack of communication.
Published: OHS Insider, April 2016
At Work article
New review finds motor control exercise reduces low-back pain, disability among sufferers
Published: February 2016
At Work article
Employers and doctors often have uneasy relationship in return to work, study finds
Interviews with Australian employers highlight problems with physicians over communication, trust.
Published: February 2016