MILLER HEALTH MANAGEMENT

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Address - Client Services • Miller Health Management • Worton Park • Cassington • Nr OXFORD • OX29 4SX

CASE STUDY 3

Managed Return to Full-Time Work following Stress-related Sickness Absence

Background:

spacer Call centre employee age 42. Married with husband on shift work and a son of 18 with severe acne.
spacer Change in business activities.
Good at job - always willing to do extra hours to help out.
Employee acutely anxious about son's acne causing him social stigma.
Covered by Private Medical Insurance.

Presenting Symptoms at Work

spacer Sickness absence for one month with 'stress'. Given antidepressants by GP.
spacer Unable to drive car due to loss of confidence.

Employer's Viewpoint

spacer Occupational physician asked to assess the employee.
spacer Manager focused on business targets and was relieved that someone else was dealing with the problem. Wanted to know when the employee would return to work and what work she would be fit to do.
Manager was supportive.

Occupational Health Intervention

spacer Occupational physician liaised with GP and obtained agreement to refer the employee to a psychiatrist for cognitive therapy.
spacer Psychiatrist arranged for the son to be seen by another psychiatrist for his condition.
Employee started to return to work three half days/week; given the least stressful calls.
Employee set personal targets for increasing the number of calls she was able to handle every day.
Employee progressed to working three full days/week before deciding when she felt able to return to full time work.

Outcome

spacer Returned to work full time.
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