The most common workplace injuries (overexertion, slips and falls, and repetitive motion injuries) typically require medical treatment and ongoing physical therapy (PT) services. But often it’s not convenient for employees to visit an offsite clinic, encouraging some to skip the treatments needed to recover.

Proactive measures such as early intervention strategies delivered by onsite PT services reduce the number of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries and associated costs, as well as shorten injured workers’ recovery periods. These services can also improve worker productivity, reduce absenteeism/presenteeism, and boost employee trust and organizational wellness culture.

Onsite PT Clinics Complement Workplace Wellness Programs

Onsite PT clinics serve a vital role in an organization’s wellness and injury management programs. Therapists provides injured workers immediate attention and easy access to treatment for MSK aches and pains, as well as job coaching and education on how to work more safely. They can also administer first aid, coordinate patient care, and develop treatment plans.

Having trained PT staff dedicated to a specific workplace heightens their success and influence. As PTs learn about employees’ duties and how working conditions impact their wellbeing, they can create effective one-on-one treatments and tailored therapy that is job-specific and adapted to real-world conditions. An onsite PT who is a familiar face may also help employees feel more comfortable about asking for help or reporting minor aches before they become major injuries.

Credentialed onsite therapists also deliver industry-related ergonomics programs and workplace assessments, highlighting unsafe working conditions and advising on how to prevent injuries from occurring. By reducing accidents and improving workers’ health and availability, onsite PT clinics deliver strong ROI for organizations.

Hiring the Right PT for the Job

Employers may consider self-managing an onsite PT clinic and hiring freelance/part-time staff, who may or may not have experience in workplace environments. And delivering health services while maintaining compliance with appropriate laws and regulations, such as medical privacy and workplace safety, is complex. That’s why many organizations turn to specialized third-party companies to manage clinic operations, including setting up and equipping the clinic space, hiring qualified PT staff, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Hiring the right credentialed therapist trained in physical and occupational health services can have a big impact on your clinic’s success, but only 5% of therapists in the US have this specific training. While all PTs understand movement-related disorders and can diagnose and treat MSK injuries, a PT whose training focused on geriatrics, for example, won’t be the best choice for an occupational setting.

For optimum results, an onsite PT facility should be staffed with therapists who understand occupational safety issues and are backed by a team of experts who can provide guidance on rapidly evolving best practices and industry standards. With these resources, a trained therapist can treat injured workers as well as deliver services such as work conditioning programs, provide competent job analysis and ergonomic advice on worksite design, and proactively work with management to achieve specific safety objectives.

Get a Team of Experts

No single person can be an expert in all that is required to deliver a successful program. With WorkWell's onsite managed services, you get a full team of experts that support he onsite physical therapist. Experts in compliance, ergonomics, program design and administration, and emerging treatment techniques and best practices are available to support the onsite clinic. 

Below are more resources you might be interested in:

• Improve the Employee Experience by Offering a Holistic Onsite Physical Therapy Clinic
• Why Onsite Physical Therapy Services are a Smart Choice for Your Wellness Program
• Injury Prevention Dials into Employee Experience
• OSHA MSDs - Now What? How Onsite PT Can Help
• How Onsite Physical Therapists Can Reduce Occupational Stress
• 10 Benefits of Onsite Physical Therapy Clinics
• How to Boost Employee Productivity and Retention