Health Promotion and Wellness Department
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Fifth Disease & Pregnancy - Board Protocol
For more information about Fifth Disease, visit the Peel Health website at www.region.peel.on.ca/health/discon/htmfiles/fifth-disease.htm
For information on other topics, visit http://www.region.peel.on.ca
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The Health Promotion & Wellness Department is staffed by three registered nurses and clerical support. The nurses are experts in Occupational Health and rehabilitation.
Manager: Wendy Welsh Ext. 24309
Caseworker: Michelle Gauci Ext. 24486
Caseworker: Cheryl Barrett Ext. 24487
Secretary: Diane Pounder Ext. 24213
The department offers programs that assist employees to continue to work or return to work in a safe, healthy and timely manner.
REPORTING:
The Disability Management Program is offered through the Health Promotion & Wellness Department and can be accessed by any employee who requires assistance to remain at work or to return to work following an absence due to illness or injury. Employees may also be referred to the Program by principals/managers who have concerns regarding an employee’s ability to continue or return to work. All WSIB claims are referred to the Program when they are reported to the Benefits Department.
MEDICAL ACCESS:
Standard forms are utilized to collect the appropriate medical information to support the need for ongoing absence or workplace accommodation. In order to facilitate open communication, all employees are requested to sign the authorization statement included on the medical forms. This signature allows health care providers to communicate directly with the caseworkers in Health Promotion & Wellness and ensures that they are included as an integral part of the return to work process.
When the medical information provided by an absent employee is insufficient to support total disability, an Independent Medical Examination may be scheduled. In order to clarify the need for workplace accommodation, an employee may be sent for a Functional Abilities Evaluation. It is in everyone’s best interest that the employee’s current health care provider be involved in these assessments and every effort is made to do so.
EARLY INTERVENTION:
Every employee is contacted by a caseworker after 5 continuous days of absence. An attempt is made to assist the employee to return to work. If this is not possible, the appropriate medical documentation is requested to support the ongoing absence. Employees are made aware of current policies and practices regarding the use of sick day credits, application for LTD, entitlement to WSIB benefits, etc.
WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATION:
There may be times when an employee is able to identify certain portions of the job that are problematic. In these instances, after careful evaluation and communication with other health care providers, it may be reasonable to modify the employee’s job to allow the employee to continue working. This modification may be a reduction in the hours of work or in the responsibilities at work, or may be the provision of particular assistive devices.
An employee returning to work after an illness or injury may require workplace accommodation on a temporary or permanent basis. These plans will be based on the medical findings provided and developed with the employee and the immediate supervisor/principal involved. Oftentimes the union representative is also involved; this involvement is at the employee’s discretion.
Attendance at work is part of the total wellness experience. An employee who is able to return to work earlier is more likely to recover sooner. Work provides us with a sense of accomplishment and opportunity in our chosen profession. The Dufferin Peel C.D.S.B. is committed to ensure that all injured/ill employees are provided with the opportunity to continue to work or return to work in a manner which most respects their dignity, which maximizes their integration and which promotes their full participation in society.
WELLNESS
Workplace Wellness is a major focus of the Health Promotion & Wellness Department. Firm on the belief that wellness programs should be employee-directed, a Wellness Committee has been formed, comprised of people from a variety of employee groups throughout the Board. In conjunction with this committee, we will assess the needs of the employees and attempt to develop and implement new initiatives to promote wellness of spirit, mind and body.