Health
AMA calls for development of return-to-work guidelines
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 12, 2004
Physicians need evidence-based guidelines to assist their efforts to get their patients back on the job after significant illness, according to a Council on Scientific Affairs report accepted at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago last month.
The recommendation came in the wake of the recognition that physicians are doing much to assist their patients' return to full functionality but have little guidance on exactly what that means. Several specialty societies have consensus statements based on expert judgment, but the science on the issue is scant.
"We're in a situation where the literature hasn't caught up with the experience of practitioners," said Scott D. Deitchman, MD, a CSA member.
The AMA also recognized that physicians can facilitate return to work, and it might convene a Federation task force on the issue.
Approximately 21 million people annually report a condition that affects their ability to work.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/07/12/hlbf0712.htm.
