Return to Work: A Collaborative Opportunity Between Family Physicians and Occupational Therapists

For family physicians, managing return-to-work (RTW) issues is often a complex and time-consuming part of primary care. You’re balancing a patient’s recovery, their job demands, psychosocial factors, employer expectations, and—let’s be honest—paperwork that seems endless. As occupational therapists, we see this too, and we want to help.

Occupational therapists (OTs) are uniquely positioned to support your patients in achieving a safe, sustainable, and functional return to work. By collaborating early in the process, we can ease the burden on physicians while helping patients regain independence, structure, and purpose through work—on terms that support their health and recovery.

---

Understanding the Role of OT in RTW

OTs focus on the intersection of health, function, and occupation. In the RTW context, that means we:

• Assess a person’s current functional capacity

• Understand their job demands (physical, cognitive, psychosocial)

• Identify barriers to RTW

• Develop a graduated or modified RTW plan

• Support the patient in building confidence, stamina, and skills to resume meaningful work

  
  

OTs look beyond the diagnosis to understand how the person is functioning day to day, what they can tolerate, and what aspects of their work environment or routine may need to be adapted.

---

When to Refer to OT for RTW Support

You might consider referring to an occupational therapist when:

• A patient’s recovery is stalled due to workplace concerns or role uncertainty

• Pain, fatigue, or mental health symptoms are affecting function but not well captured by diagnostic imaging or lab tests

• The patient is anxious or fearful about returning to work

• You’re being asked to sign off on a modified work plan, but you don’t feel you have enough detail about their function

• The patient needs a gradual RTW plan but doesn’t know where to start

We can also assist in navigating communication between the patient and employer (with consent), clarifying expectations, and ensuring that both sides are set up for success.

---

Common Scenarios We Address

1. Musculoskeletal Injuries

We conduct functional assessments, simulate job tasks, and design gradual reconditioning programs that restore work tolerance safely.

2. Chronic Pain

We use pacing, activity analysis, and graded exposure to improve confidence and function without exacerbating symptoms.

3. Mental Health

We address cognitive load, interpersonal dynamics, environmental stressors, and routine-building—factors often missed in standard RTW plans.

4. Post-concussion Syndrome

We assist with symptom management, cognitive strategy training, and modified work transitions that support healing while maintaining work engagement.

---

Why OT Involvement Improves Outcomes

• Reduces risk of prolonged disability through early intervention

• Increases patient confidence in their ability to return to work

• Decreases re-injury risk by addressing both functional and environmental contributors

• Strengthens communication between stakeholders (patient, employer, physician)

• Frees up physician time by offloading functional and environmental assessments

  
  

RTW is not a one-size-fits-all decision. By integrating occupational therapy into the care team, we can create personalized, function-based solutions that move beyond simple timelines and diagnosis codes.

---

Let’s Work Together

Family doctors are often the first and most trusted health professionals patients turn to when they're off work due to injury or illness. By partnering with occupational therapists, you gain an ally who can help translate clinical recovery into functional readiness—and support patients in rebuilding their roles with confidence and clarity.

If you’re curious about how OT can support your patients in returning to work—or want to explore referral options—let’s connect. Together, we can help patients not just go back to work, but thrive in it.