The IHS is currently facing severe budgetary restrictions. Direct and indirect costs associated with worker injuries and illnesses further weaken an already stressed health care delivery system. Furthermore, the IHS, as an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service, has a responsibility to identify causes of employee injuries and illnesses and prevent reoccurrences. Once a worker is injured, it is critical to rehabilitate that individual as soon as possible. There is evidence that the longer an injured employee is away from work, the more difficult it is for that individual to return.
Disabled workers suffer decreased self- esteem and increased frequency of addictive behaviors.
Recommend improvements in the administration and management of workers' compensation, including prevention, monitoring of cases, and methods of returning injured employees to active duty status. Develop an implementation plan including draft policy statements. The first step in this process was to analyze the causes and types of occupational injuries and illnesses affecting IHS employees. In December 1993, an analysis of these injuries, illnesses and their costs was presented to the IHS Council of Area Directors and Associate Directors. The following is a brief summary of this information using FY 1994 data, and recommendations for improvement.