Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwok PK(1)(2), Kwan Y(1)(2), Yau LM(1)(2), LY Pun(1)(2), Chan PF(1), Ng YM (1)(2), Chao DVK(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, KEC (2)Occupational Medicine Care Service, KEC
Introduction :
Occupational Medicine Care Service- Kowloon East Cluster (OMCS-KEC) was established in September 2008. We provided holistic care to our staff in bio-psychosocial perspectives, with proactive screening for psychological needs. Early psychological support including timely referral to Critical Incident Psychological Services (CIPS), Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Service and early Pain Clinic referral mechanisms had been introduced since 2017 and 2018 respectively to those staff in need.
Objectives :
To evaluate the efficacy of restructured OMCS care model since 2017, through a review on injury-on-duty (IOD) sick leave rate and return-to-work (RTW) rate.
Methodology :
Data of reported IOD and related IOD sick leave days were retrieved from the cluster Human Resources Division (HRD) from 1/4/2017 to 31/3/2019. The IOD incidence rate and IOD sick leave rate were analyzed. Return-to-work (RTW) rate was also reviewed.
Result & Outcome :
The total number of IOD cases joined OMC from 1/4/2017 to 31/3/2018 and 1/4/2018 to 31/3/2019 were 50 and 45 respectively. The three most prevalent body parts involved were: back (30% in 17/18, 20% in 18/19), shoulder (18% in 17/18, 15.6% in 18/19) and knee (12% in 17/18, 13.3% in 18/19). The number of reported IOD per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) manpower in KEC during the review period were 4.32 in 2017/18 and 3.66 in 2018/19. The IOD sick leave days per 100 FTE were 120.45 in 2017/18 and 77.94 in 2018/19. A significant decrease of 35.3% was noted. The RTW rate for 2018/19, in terms of level of job fulfillment was also encouraging, 82.2 % of injured staff successfully RTW with modified duties or full duty within 3 months, 91.1 % of them within 6 months and 93.3 % of them within 12 months. Among those IOD staff returned to work, 31% resumed full duty within 6 months and 43% of them within 12 months. We believe that timely service for our staff is the key to the success of our service and the success of this restructured model of care was reflected in the marked reduction in Cluster IOD sick leave days.
