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Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

  • 1.  Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 13:53

    I am curious to know if there is an industry standard for workers' compensation vocational rehabilitation providers across the United States.  Do they mostly meet with clients in an office or meet with clients in their home or public spaces? 

    Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

    ------------------------------
    Lanelle Yamane, MS, CRC, LMHC

    Hawaii
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 14:00

    I'm not sure about an Industry Standard, but common sense should dictate your approach. I have found there to be inherent value in meeting with an Injured Worker at their home. On the other hand, there are definitely times where a public place is preferable. 

    ------------------------------
    Dave Radecke
    President/Case Manager
    dave.peak@roadrunner.com
    Cambridge, OH United States
    ------------------------------


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  • 3.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 16:42
    You can meet anywhere as long as both parties are in agreement.






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  • 4.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-11-2015 17:17
    Much of the work that I have done is through various means. I have used public, office, in-home, and VOIP such as SKYPE and VSEE. My preferred method is in-home as you get to observe and assess the person in their own environment. They are usually more relaxed and less likely to display "office behavior". As Dave indicated, there are definitely times when meeting in a public or other place is preferable. That depends on the situation and safety on many levels. If it doesn't feel good in your gut making a home visit, then I would go with my instincts. One place I do not like to meet with clients is in an office, though I have resorted to that when needed. 


    Best regards,

    Phil Young, MA, CPC, CRC
    Compass Vocational Consulting
    3131 McKinney Ave
    Suite 600
    Dallas, TX 75204
    972 292 7222
    877 291 1110


    "Over 30 years of Vocational, Mental Health and Educational Services"

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  • 5.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-16-2015 12:38

    I can only speak to what we do at our company. In years past, we met with almost everyone in their homes. We felt like this gave us good insight into the person and their situation.  I still think that is true, but we lean more towards meeting them in our office or a public place.  I do not allow male counselors to meet with female clients in their home without another adult present for their own protection and vice versa for female counselors and male cliients.

    I've been doing this in Utah for 20 years and there have been so many times that we've gone to someone's home, out in the middle of nowhere and then found out about past criminal histories of sexual or physical abuse, assault or rape and murder.  I prefer we be safe and not sorry.

    I do not prohibit counselors for meeting in people's home if there is another adult present, as there are times the injured worker is not able to travel or doesn't have transportation, but I prefer they meet in public or our offices.

    ------------------------------
    Kimberly Nortz
    Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation
    knortz@wcf.com
    Sandy, UT United States
    ------------------------------


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  • 6.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-16-2015 13:07
    I am one of the "senior" members of this community having been a CRC since 1974. Still working full time for a home/community neuro rehab company. Have obviously seen many changes in how rehab is "practiced" over the past 40+ years. Home visits were part of the job when I started as a rehab counselor. Of course, pay phones and knowing where to find them in the field, were part of the job then too. Our field staff are expected to utilize common sense, as was referenced in previous posts, before allowing themselves to be in any type of unsafe or compromising environment or situation. It is hard to practice comprehensive case management without being in the home, since determining and observing social/family involvement (or lack thereof) can be so important to successful rehab outcomes. I am encouraged by the professionalism and insight I read about on this forum by some of my "younger" colleagues.....and please don't take offense at that term.......
     
    Jim Goolsby, M.Ed., CRC, CDMS, LPC, CBIS
    Customer Relations Manager GA & SC
    Rehab Without Walls



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  • 7.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 14:10

    I would suggest reviewing The Advisory Opinions under the CRCC Professional Code of Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors. 

     

    Thank you.

    Maria A. Babinetz, MS, CRC, CDMS, CCM, ABVE / D

    Licensed Professional Counselor – PA
    Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor - NJ

    Vocational Rehabilitation Expert
     

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  • 8.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 14:37

    I meet clients in a variety of places i.e., homes, office and libraries, Mike

     

    Mike MacGuffie, M.Ed., MRC, CRC

    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

    Markey & Company

    2805 Tremainsville

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  • 9.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 15:46
    I to have met clients in a variety of places but mostly though at a quiet area of a library or public place like a restaurant or office of a government agency. 

    James  Beltz  M.Ed, CRC,LPC,TWD
    Education Coordinator
    Vocational Consultant
    Mobile: 330-904-4322
    Fax :330-854-7004













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  • 10.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 16:03

    We always give a client the option of choosing the locale for the interview - but I agree with the others that a lot of pertinent information can be gained visiting someone's home.  Otherwise a "quiet" place (Library/Govt Bldg), is preferable to a noisy/public place (like a restaurant).  If I recall the VA requires it's contractors to use a public and accessible facility like the library.

     

    Vincent J. Antonelli, MSW, CRC

    Director of Compliance

    StubbeLogo2C     image002.jpg@01D0EBAE.9DCA6BB0

     

    11235 Davenport, Ste. 112, Omaha, NE 68154  

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  • 11.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 16:13

    Lanelle, my comments are based on my doing voc rehab in the private sector/workers' comp sector. I am not aware of a national standard.

     

    The VRC colleagues who worked for insurance-owned rehab businesses, or rehab businesses that did the majority of voc rehab work for the carrier, usually worked in an office setting. Those arrangements have migrated so that these companies offer the at-home work option or flex hours. Of late, some insurance carriers only offer at-home work offices; these arrangements are not intended for face-to-face meetings with clients. Sole proprietors, those in practice for themselves, seemed split 50/50 between setting up a home office versus say renting space at an executive office. The executive office space usually included access to office equipment such as fax, computer, copiers, telephone use. As to working from home, IRS guidelines are clear on what constitutes a home office. Some colleagues preferred to work from home to do their reports and billing, telephone calls, etc., and, if a face- to- face was needed, having by pre-arrangement an office to borrow or share.

     

    The Code of Ethics will provide guidance as Maria offered. I stopped meeting in homes for personal safety reasons. With privacy concerns, I also stopped meeting in quiet coffee shops/cafes preferring the library site as Michael mentioned, using a colleagues' conference room, or arranging for space that also included access to office equipment.  As my practice grew, I found that the people in the job placement phase of services needed a space to make calls, use resources, make copies, so I ended up renting a small two-office space which I had to furnish.

     

    Social media technology is changing the way voc rehab professionals do business so the "place" to meet may be virtual, or via teleconferencing, or by Skype technology. In a year these technologies may be obsolete. Digital technology will influence information disclosure by parties, privacy rules, regulations and/or best practices, how reports/billing are conveyed, voice recognition, and paperless environments to name a few.  

     

     

     

    Ellie J. Ettner, MS, CRC

    Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant

    Unum

     

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  • 12.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-10-2015 22:20
    We always meet in our offices, unless there is a pressing reason to do
    otherwise. If a client requests to meet in a public space, where we
    cannot guarantee privacy/confidentiality, then we make sure that the client
    understands that. We do not meet in client's homes, due to safety and
    possible liability issues. The only way we might do so is if two
    counselors attended the appointment or the client's spouse was present.
    But, again, we simply try to avoid meeting outside of our office.


    Janice K. Olsen, VRC, CDMS
    Olsen & Associates, Inc.
    Vocational Case Management
    253-564-3774, ext. 204
    800-322-6001, ext. 204
    253-564-8534 fax


    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-11-2015 10:19

    I find the replies on this query very interesting. I am a RN CRC and have been a CRC since 1988. I am a field case manager, functioning independently. My referral sources: employers, TPA's insurance carriers and in past years the Dept of Labor OWCP all expect me to meet my client in their homes or apartments. That is part of the assessment process. In many instances the very reason I was hired was because the client alleges difficulties at home, and the referral source wants to have eyes on what is the problem so they can go about getting it fixed.

    Yes, there are parts of the city that are in lower income areas, and I tremble a bit re: my personal safety. I dress that day to try and match my surroundings, be conservative, and go in daylight hours. I always tell my family when, where, ways to reach me besides my cell phone, what time to expect me back. In three instances I called the local police station BEFORE I went in to ask for discreet surveillance of the area. BUT going into the home to interview IS PART OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

     

    As CRC's you are charged with independent assessment responsibilities- if you do not meet the client on their home grounds, how do you ever expect to develop a realistic voc rehab plan that homes in on their needs?

     

    Susan J. Maraglino, BSN, RN, CRC, LNCC, MSCC, CNLCP, CMSP

    Resolution Strategies for Vocational Perspectives, pllc
    Serving the Insurance and Legal industries
    Medical Case Management
    Medical-Legal / Medicare Set-Aside & Medicare Secondary Payer Consulting

    www.RSVPpllc.com
    Voice: 214-383-7576
    Fax: 1-844-272-6793

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  • 14.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-11-2015 10:47
    I think the need for a home visit varies greatly based on case assignment
    and referral source. We do return to work services and other vocational
    services for worker compensation claims, not medical case management. Many
    of our clients have legal representation and we cannot even meet with them
    except in the attorney's office.

    Janice K. Olsen, VRC, CDMS
    Olsen & Associates, Inc.
    Vocational Case Management
    253-564-3774, ext. 204
    800-322-6001, ext. 204
    253-564-8534 fax


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  • 15.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-11-2015 13:56
    Thank you all for the feedback! Have a great weekend.

    I would appreciate more responses.

    Lanelle Yamane


    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-11-2015 17:08

    I recently read an article that cited a case management company that was fined $10,000 by OSHA for not implementating procedures to protect employees that provide services in client homes.  See link to the article below.

    I would also not allow clients to ride in your car with you to search for work. There are professionals liability and commercial liability risks associated with doing this as well.

    Best of luck.

    http://www.dorlandhealth.com/dorland-health-articles/ensure-employees-trained-in-workplace-violence-in-wake-of-case-manager’s-death-osha-fines

    ------------------------------
    Brian Harmon
    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
    info@disabilityservicesofamerica.com
    Bensenville, IL United States
    ------------------------------


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  • 17.  RE: Workers' Comp VR - Industry Standard - Meeting with Clients

    Posted 09-16-2015 00:54

    Thank you for all the additional feedback. 

    ------------------------------
    LanelleYamane
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