INJURY / ILLNESS MANAGEMENT | EMPLOYEE & FAMILY ASSISTANCE COUNSELLING

HEALTH PROMOTION | TECHNOLOGY | CONSULTING

ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

When a physical or psychological problem forces an employee to miss work, a safe and timely recovery is the optimal solution. Each absence must be objectively evaluated and appropriate treatment plans developed. OHI can help employers and their employees who are absent due to short term disability, long term disability or Workers Compensation.

Upon approval of an application, OHI Care Managers design effective treatment plans, with a focus on returning to work, to assist employees. Modified or graduated return-to-work plans can be implemented. As an added service, current information and access to specialists, diagnostic procedures and treatments is available using Organizational Health’s extensive support network.

Psychological issues frequently stem from an illness or injury. OHI recognizes this emerging trend and has developed an integrated approach to treatment using a combination of experts from the Disability Management team and the Employee and Family Assistance Program team.

An effective recovery plan means less lost time, fewer sick days and a healthier company. It offers a high return on investment and that makes good business sense.

Organizational Health Inc. helps employees recover and, ultimately, return to work.

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Employees can experience stress and personal problems that impact their lives, their productivity and their relationship with others. Troubled employees are less productive and more susceptible to injury, accident, illness and disease. Organizational Health Inc. has developed an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that provides confidential, professional assistance to employees and their families.

OHI's EFAP programs cover hundreds of thousands of employees and their families nationally.  We have over 40 corporate clients ranging in size from 50 to 50,000 lives. Our focus is to provide high quality, professional EFAP services to employees and their managers, supervisors, foremen etc.

For individuals, we provide targeted short term intervention for specific issues/concerns that affect the employee’s ability to engage in his/her peronal and work lives. Confidential services available in the EFAP include managing stress, depression, substance abuse, relationships, financial or legal problems, phobias, job performance, job loss and emotional or psychological trauma.

For managers, supervisors, foremen etc., our services recognize that there can be significant challenges to the success and wellbeing of employees and the organization as a whole. Among other services we offer one-on-one consultation services with people managers, mediation, and a wide range of workshops (including“Recognizing the Troubled Worker”; How to Address a Failed Drug/Alcohol Test”; “Effective Communication Between Team Members”). Our staff have extensive expertise in helping with workplace issues including: improving morale, absentee management, pain management, climate surveys, leadership coaching, team effectiveness, dealing with stress or change, identifying drug use, leading a balanced life and others. Professional counsellors are also available to assist in times of crisis or during a critical incident.

OHI employs an extensive roster of healthcare professionals to respond to the variety of people’s needs. Our staff includes Master’s level psychologists and social workers with SAP/SAE designations, substance abuse professionals including case managers, occupational health and wellness consultants, RNs, WCB specialists, benefits specialists, and claim adjudicators to name a few.

The Employee Assistance Program promotes healthy, productive employees who maximize their contributions to the organization.

Employee Assistance Program includes many specialist programs:

·          Counselling Services

·          Consultation Services and Workshops

·          Critical Incident Stress Management

·          Financial / Legal Support Services

·          Stress Management Services

·          Substance Use Management Program

COUNSELLING SERVICES

OHI provides individual, couple and family counselling and can deliver services in face-to-face, telephone and e-counselling formats.  In addition to our staff team of counsellors we maintain and are continually expanding our national and international network of counsellors. This ensures people are usually able to receive services in their own community.

Appointments are typically available within 2 to 3 business days. In emergency situations appointments can be booked on the same day. OHI offers counselling in English and French. Other languages can be available on request. All counselling is professional and confidential.

OHI provides counselling services for a broad range of presenting issues such as relationship conflict, psychological distress, family issues, including elder and child care concerns, stress, debt counselling and alcohol/drug abuse. In addition, other areas where we provide assistance include: anger management; life transitions; grief reactions; communication skills; and physical wellbeing.

We all experience stress and personal problems that impact our lives, our productivity and our relationships with others. Counselling can help people to resolve issues so they can be more effective in their daily lives and on the job. It does not matter if the stress or problem is work related or arises in another area of life –OHI’s EFAP is there to help.

Early recognition and intervention is the key to preventing more serious future problems. The earlier you address a troubling situation, the easier it is to manage.

Often a supervisor or manager notices signs of stress before the individual themselves, and can assist employees in seeking help.

In addition OHI offers E-counselling for people who are unable to attend face to face appointments E-counselling is a web-based service where employees or eligible family members can access professional counsellors on-line in their own homes at times suitable to themselves. We recognize that this service is not a substitute for in-person short-term goal focused counselling, but E-counselling has proven to be a valuable resource for some who may not otherwise access traditional services.

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CONSULTATION SERVICES AND WORKSHOPS

We offer one-on-one consultation services with people managers, as well as a broad selection of workshops addressing a range of workplace needs  and interpersonal concerns such as:

·                Bullying in the Workplace

·                Human Rights and Discrimination - The Employer's Role

·                Recognizing the Troubled Employee and Assisting in an EFAP Referral

·                Respectful Workplace - Diversity & Equity

·                Supporting Peers Experiencing Difficulties

·                How to address the failed drug test

·                Effective communication between team members

·                Anxiety & Depression - Recognizing Symptoms and Knowing Treatment Options

·                Beating the Winter Blues

·                Coping With Holiday Stress

·                Fatigue Management

·                Financial Planning

·                Gambling Problems

·                Handling the Challenging Child/Teenager

·                Positive & Effective Communications

·                Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

·                Seasonal Affective Disorder

·                Shift Work Strategies for Keeping Healthy

·                Stress Management Strategies

·                Substance Use and Abuse

·                Work Life Balance

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CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT

Our EFAP team has extensive experience delivering Critical Incident Stress Management Interventions in the workplace.

A critical incident in the workplace is a crisis event that is traumatic or shocking, creating an unusually strong emotional reaction either during or after the event. The impact of the critical incident may interfere with normal coping abilities. The stress response can be immediate or delayed and can be triggered by one or by a series of events.

Workers may become distracted and unable to concentrate on work — so much so

that they pose a risk to the safety of themselves and others. Some workers may have feelings of anger, fear, or guilt. Others may feel responsible for the incident or may blame themselves for not doing more to prevent the incident or help the victims.

Because critical incidents may seriously affect the emotional well-being of workers, it’s important employers respond to these incidents in a manner that is timely, appropriate and effective. Organizational Health Inc. can assist employers facing these situations

To reduce the intense reactions of workers to the incident, and assist them in returning to normal daily activities, critical incident interventions such as defusing and debriefing sessions can be very helpful. These sessions are held by specially trained OHI staff.

Critical Incident Stress Defusing

A defusing session is a short (30–45 minute), non-judgmental session where one or more workers affected by the incident meets with a trained facilitator. Defusings are usually held within 6 to 8 hours of the event. The facilitator will describe to workers the physical, emotional, and mental reactions that they are, or may soon be, experiencing. They also provide information on how workers can take care of their emotional and physical health and the resources that are available to workers who require more assistance. This may also be an opportunity for the facilitator to determine the need for a debriefing session.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

 (CISD) is an individual or group process in which one or more OHI experts help the affected worker(s) cope with the continuing effects of a traumatic incident. A CISD usually occurs within 24 to 72 hours after the event. Attendance is mandatory, participation is voluntary. The purpose of the debriefing is to alleviate the trauma of affected workers and speed up their recovery process. Debriefing focuses on the well-being of the workers. The intent of the debriefing is to address and respond to the emotional and psychological consequences resulting specifically from the workplace incident.

OHI has developed a series of brochures offering information and guidance following a critical incident. Please follow this link to these brochures, which may be downloaded and printed.

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FINANCIAL/ LEGAL SUPPORT

It is well recognized that concern over money and finances is one of the leading causes of stress and marital conflict. Money worries can affect both job productivity and absenteeism/presenteeism.

Where eligible, your EFAP program can facilitate support from a specialist financial counsellor. Having access to tools and information to understand key financial concepts can empower people to regain control of their lives and set and achieve financial goals. In some specific instances limited financial support for your legal costs may be available.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT

High levels of stress can be a major cause of worker discontent. It can be understood as the experience of negative emotions that arise when we perceive that we do not have sufficient resources to deal with the demands made on us.  Negative emotions include anger, frustration, fear and shame. The result is unsatisfactory performance, poor relations with co workers and supervisors and increased absenteeism.

The demands of the workplace can come from many sources and if the employee perceives that they cannot respond appropriately their stress level will rise.  Employee perceptions can be influenced by a wide range of factors including personal circumstances and negative beliefs. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.  In such circumstances it is important to recognize what is happening and take appropriate steps to clarify the situation rather than reacting as if the employee is deliberately refusing to cooperate. 

It can also be stressful for the supervisor or manager who has their own pressures and deadlines to be faced with apparently uncooperative staff. Even when we face an emergency, deadline or any situation that causes stress, the harm is minimal if we can resolve the situation. If the challenge cannot be resolved or the stressful situation keeps repeating itself, we do not have the opportunity to recover.  Our stress levels build up.

Living with unresolved demands creates chronic stress.  Over time the build up of chronic stress can lead to a variety of stress related conditions such as burn out and even physical and mental illness. Once this point is reached recovery is more difficult and can require time off work. It is therefore important to monitor one’s own stress levels as well as being aware of employees exhibiting excessive levels of stress. Recommending an employee attend counselling for stress management can often resolve the issue.

OHI employs experienced psychologists and counsellors with specialized knowledge in these areas.  They are available to consult with you on a wide range of stress related issues. If you need advice on how to deal with difficult workers or how to manage the increase pressures that today’s work environment impose on you we are here to help.

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SUBSTANCE USE MANAGEMENT

 Organizational Health Inc (OHI )has many years’ extensive experience providing substance abuse assessments, counselling, referral and follow up treatment to employees/members and family members with substance abuse problems.

OHI assists the employer to respond to worker with substance use concerns and addictions, and supports those workers to get the help that is needed. OHI services include assessments by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) or a Substance Use Expert (SAE). The SAP or SAE provides a clinical substance use diagnosis and provides the recommendations for treatment, counselling, return to work pre-requisites and any follow up needs. OHI will provide a Substance Abuse Assessment which includes face to face interview, appropriate paper/pencil testing, and report outlining diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.  We can also provide ongoing Case Management support and follow up to ensure the treatment plan is completed.

All of OHI’s substance abuse experts are Masters level mental health practitioners with more than five years of professional experience and training in the assessment and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. 

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Healthy organizations start with healthy employees. Research shows there is a proven link between healthy staff members and high productivity. Therefore, OHI endeavors to improve or sustain the vitality of an organization by promoting a positive mind-body attitude and helping employees embrace an active lifestyle.

At OHI, Health Promotion involves the following steps :

1. Health Risk Analysis – this initial step provides an indicator of the present and future health risks for individual staff members. Collectively, the information provides data on specific disease risk trends within the organization.

2. Analysis of attendance and absentee data – reveals trends or issues that are affecting employees

3. Development of Strategic Plan to address and eliminate key reasons for absenteeism by introducing health and wellness into corporate culture

4. Implementation of the Strategic Plan – can include introducing an educational health campaign, nutritional counselling, safety programs or ergonomic reconfigurations

5. Follow up and analysis of Return on Investment

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Compiling health data for employees can be overwhelming. OHI has developed OHasis (Organizational Health Activity Support and Information System)--a data storage application. It allows recording and real time reporting of Illness/Injury, EFAP and consulting information.

This state-of-the-art, internet based technology allows your company to track the status of all cases and capture data for reporting purposes while protecting the medical confidentiality of the individual. The application is always accessible and is secured by 128 bit encryption which guarantees confidentiality.

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The ease of use, reporting ability and data integrity inherent in OHasis has been so successful, OHI has accommodated requests to lease the application. OHasis is now available as part of the Disability/Employee Assistance Management Programs or as a stand alone application for purchase or lease.

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Our experience in leadership development means we can help you design programs tailored to your individual needs.
OHI has a wide range of internal resources available to help conduct:

• Needs analysis –to identify opportunities for growth in leadership and organizational culture, or to better understand trends in absenteeism
• Claim audits – assistance for long term disability, short term disability or worker’s compensation claims
• Individual coaching
• Strategic and business planning
• Leadership training
• Process reviews in Disability Management or Family Assistance Programs

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OHI focuses on linking the health of an organization to the benefit utilization. Various services are offered to help maintain the health of your organization:

• Facilitate pre-employment/post offer functional ability evaluation (FAE)
• Website offering self assessment tools
• Immunization clinics for your employees
• Off-site occupational health nurses who can visit your workplace
• Ergonomic assessments to remedy problems in the workplace
• Health and wellness programs- designed to address current problems by educating and empowering employees

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