Policymakers are searching for ways to improve the supports workers receive after the onset or worsening of a major medical condition, with the objective of reducing exit from the labor force and entry into Social Security Disability Insurance. New research findings from Washington State’s workers’ compensation system might point the way.

In this web-based seminar, Dr. Gary Franklin, medical director for Washington’s workers’ compensation program and professor at the University of Washington, and Professor Thomas Wickizer of Ohio State University will present findings from recently published research in which they:

• Identify deficiencies in the care delivered to workers’ compensation claimants and examine their connection to unnecessarily prolonged absence from work and permanent disability
• Describe the approach used to improve the quality of care by a Washington State care coordination and improvement initiative implemented by the Center for Occupational Health and Education (COHE)
• Present findings from an evaluation of the COHE initiative’s impacts on lost work time, net benefit costs, and other outcomes