October 2, 2025
When workplace injuries occur, the recovery process requires a coordinated effort ― and employee engagement is essential for success. Expert strategies to identify and overcome barriers can help injured employees stay focused on their recovery and return-to-work goals.
Identifying barriers
Depending on the injury, the recovery journey can have many different challenges for care teams to address to ensure optimal outcomes.
Communication issues, such as language barriers or difficulty understanding complex medical information, can impact the recovery process. Physicians and their teams can help by providing visual representations and simplifying descriptions, as needed. It’s critical to ensure patients understand their injury or illness and the basic aspects of their care plan. Steps like these can help them better prepare for treatment while strengthening engagement.
Medical deserts can also present unique challenges. Even in big cities, there can be medical deserts where the right specialists cannot be found close by. If specialty care is needed, providers may suggest a center of excellence for better treatment. Getting the employee to agree to go can be a challenge, especially if it requires traveling long distances or if they would prefer to go to a specialist they’ve been to in the past. Discussing all the options, and the advantages of each, with the employee can help the decision process.
Building trust and engaging patients
Having a nurse intervene early in a claim and serve as an advocate can make a positive impact on the employee’s experience. They act as an intermediary between the claims and managed care teams and the employer, supporting the employee and helping with any questions or concerns. By providing empathy, care and true advocacy throughout the process, this approach can keep employees engaged and help drive the best possible outcomes.
Centers of excellence and holistic care approaches
A key step in keeping injured employees engaged is discussing how getting the appropriate treatment and adhering to the care plan can help them return to work and life as soon as possible. A center of excellence and a traditional surgery center may provide similar care for patients, but there are some differences when it comes to treating workplace injuries. For example, you will find high-quality surgeons and modern operating room infrastructures in both, but a center of excellence is dedicated to the treatment and recovery of the injured employee and has high performing physicians who have professional teams that communicate clearly about expectations and results.
Supporting injured employees – before and after surgery
Being told that surgery is needed can be a chilling experience for most people. Often, surgery is complicated by pre-existing conditions such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension. When an injured employee is facing an operation, surgery nurse services can offer support before and after. Our unique solution proactively engages injured employees, providing dedicated nurse resources and technology to help them take steps to prepare for surgery and educational tools and guidance to improve their recovery.
Addressing mental health needs during recovery
Identifying psychosocial issues early ensures the right teams are involved and injured employees receive holistic care from the start. Through behavioral health coaching, licensed clinical social workers and counselors provide support and coping strategies to help employees address psychological barriers related to recovery and return to work.
Working together to achieve the best possible outcome
Care teams can help employees successfully navigate the process by:
- Encouraging active participation
- Offering emotional support
- Highlighting options for lifestyle adjustments
- Simplifying and breaking down medical information
- Providing realistic goals for recovery
- Using technology to support the process
Smart strategies offer multiple benefits
Keeping injured employees engaged provides several advantages including:
- Improved adherence to treatment plans
- Engaged employees better understand their condition, medical treatment options and the importance of adhering to prescribed plans.
- Those who are engaged in their recovery are more likely to identify potential complications early and seek appropriate care.
- Enhanced communication and trust
- Injured and ill employees who are engaged feel comfortable communicating concerns, questions and challenges with their healthcare providers.
- Open communication fosters trust, leading to better collaboration among stakeholders and shared decision-making.
- Better quality of life
- Feeling in control of one’s health can improve mental and emotional well-being.
- Employees who are engaged in the process develop effective coping strategies to help manage challenges.
Bringing together all the right elements
Getting employees to feel connected to, and responsible for, their recovery is a critical part of the return-to-work process. Providing tailored support, holistic treatment and coordinated care throughout their recovery can help them stay engaged every step of the way.
