IHPM/Employer Focus: Intel Explores Manual Therapies as an Onsite Musculoskeletal Pain Solution

Summary: Why would an employer want to explore a complementary therapy? How might a pilot project be established? This article describes a relationship between microprocessor giant Intel, researchers looking for onsite solutions to low-back pain at the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM), and the Dorn Companies, which hires licensed massage therapist to supply a Rolfing-based manual therapy to employees. Outcomes of this pilot project will be reported at the IHPM's fall conference in Scottsdale, October  15-17, 2008.

Intel - exploring a new approach to employee satisfaction and cost-savings

When Rick Nevins, MD, chief research officer for the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM), went searching for what might potentially be a breakthrough onsite approach to musculoskeletal pain, he encountered a program developed by a trained Rolfer which uses licensed massage therapists.

IHPM, an Integrator sponsor, contacted, Intel, one of their key member of their Business Leadership Council, to see if they might be interested in a pilot porject on the program. This is the story of how that relationship began. A future Integrator article will look at outcomes-based strategy through which Del Dorn, the Rolfer noted above, has brought Trauma Release Therapy into the employer arena via the Dorn Companies.

Intel Explores Manual Therapies as an Onsite Musculoskeletal Pain Solution

Rick Nevins, MD - IHPM's chief research officer

The importance of musculoskeletal pain as a major cost driver -- of presenteeism, absenteeism and workers compensation -- places it near the top of the employer agenda for reducing total costs associated with employee health issues. Recognizing the importance of this problem, the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM) is seeking solutions -- leading to an exceptional onsite pilot project that might point the way to significant benefits for employers and their employees.

Schmidt J, Schweback RG. Preliminary Trial on the Effectiveness of Early Intervention
Manual Therapy in Reducing Costs of Presenteeism Due to Musculoskeletal Pain.
Journal of Health & Productivity; Vol 2, Number 1; April 2007.

Sue Adams, RN, BA, COHN-S - Intel's Global Health & Wellbeing Manager

TRT is performed onsite by specially trained massage therapists. It is a deep tissue treatment based on a practice called Rolfing, and offered in a series of 30 minute sessions. The Dorn Companies, which developed the therapy originally in the workers compensation environment, was the vendor in the UCSD pilot. Sullivan knew representatives of the firm had been attending IHPM events. The firm’s routine practice of gathering outcomes data with their clients suggested they might be a good partner for a pilot project.

IHPM - taking the lead in the exploration

Engaging the manual therapies in the IHPM-Dorn pilot was viewed as potentially offering employees both an inducement for early reporting as well as an onsite solution. Adds Schaab: “We think the program may be an incentive to get people in earlier so we can avoid serious injuries, and gain step function improvement and improve employee quality of life.” A particular benefit of working with Dorn is that the TRT intervention can be treated as first aid and therefore falls outside of OSHA injury reporting requirements.

Vendor of the manual therapy

Intel’s decision to engage the pilot with IHPM followed “a lot of homework,” according to Adams. Dorn’s prior clients were contacted. The program was benchmarked with other manual therapy approaches. Intel’s medical director was involved in the decision.