CDMS Vocational Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Programs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a return-to-work (RTW) program, which approach has been shown to produce the best outcomes for injured workers?
- Waiting for full medical recovery before any return to work
- Early, modified duty return to work as soon as medically feasible (Correct answer)
- Referring the worker to vocational rehabilitation before any modified duty
- Settling the claim early to reduce total disability duration
Correct answer: Early, modified duty return to work as soon as medically feasible
Research consistently shows that early return to work, even in a modified capacity, reduces chronic disability and improves long-term outcomes.
Question 2: What is 'work hardening' in the context of occupational rehabilitation?
- A disciplinary process for employees who abuse sick leave
- A structured, work-oriented program that restores physical, behavioral, and vocational functions (Correct answer)
- Ergonomic modifications to make jobs physically easier
- A rapid return-to-full-duty protocol used in acute care
Correct answer: A structured, work-oriented program that restores physical, behavioral, and vocational functions
Work hardening is a multidisciplinary program using real or simulated work tasks to restore physical capacity and work behaviors for return to a specific job.
Question 3: Which vocational rehabilitation service helps an individual with a disability learn specific skills for a new occupation?
- Job placement assistance
- Occupational/vocational training (Correct answer)
- Job site modification
- Worksite analysis
Correct answer: Occupational/vocational training
Vocational training provides instruction in a new trade, profession, or skill set to prepare the individual for employment in a different occupation.
Question 4: What is a 'job analysis' used for in disability management?
- Determining the worker's pre-injury wage for benefit calculation
- Documenting the physical and cognitive demands of a specific job to match worker capabilities (Correct answer)
- Classifying jobs under workers' compensation rating systems
- Evaluating an employer's compliance with OSHA standards
Correct answer: Documenting the physical and cognitive demands of a specific job to match worker capabilities
A job analysis systematically documents physical, cognitive, and environmental demands of a position to compare with a worker's functional capacity.
Question 5: Which Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) physical demand category applies to work requiring lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally?
- Sedentary
- Light (Correct answer)
- Medium
- Heavy
Correct answer: Light
The DOT classifies 'light work' as involving lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally and up to 10 pounds frequently.
Question 6: What is 'on-the-job training' (OJT) as a vocational rehabilitation strategy?
- Classroom training provided by the VR agency at no cost to the employer
- Employer-based training where the employer is reimbursed for training costs while the worker learns the job (Correct answer)
- A temporary work placement to assess job fit without commitment
- A mandatory training requirement for new hires under WIOA
Correct answer: Employer-based training where the employer is reimbursed for training costs while the worker learns the job
OJT places the VR participant directly with an employer who receives reimbursement for the cost of training while the worker develops job-specific skills.
CDMS Vocational Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Programs 2
In a return-to-work (RTW) program, which approach has been shown to produce the best outcomes for injured workers?