IHPM/Employer Focus: Intel Explores Manual Therapies as an Onsite Musculoskeletal Pain Solution
Written by John Weeks
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 betweenmicroprocessor 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.
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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. Outcomes
of the IHPM-Intel manual therapies pilot project will be presented at IHPM’s
Eighth Annual International Conference in Scottsdale,
October 15-17, 2008.
________________________________
Intel Explores Manual
Therapies as an Onsite Musculoskeletal Pain Solution
Note: This article was developed for the August 2008 issue of
IHPM's Health and Productivity Management.
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.
Rick
Nevins, MD, IHPM’s chief research officer and leader on the project, was not
satisfied with the outcomes of IHPM’s early investigation of onsite programs
for treating pain, and began searching for alternative approaches – such as a
hands-on therapy, delivered in the workplace.
Dr.
Nevins and IHPM co-founder Sean Sullivan recalled an article in IHPM’s Journal of Health & Productivity (Vol.
2, No. 1, April 2007) which reported outcomes of a pilot using a treatment
called Trauma Release Therapy (TRT). The authors reported significant
reductions in costs of presenteeism in employees of the University of California
at San Diego (UCSD).
_____________________
Data Supporting
a Pilot: Journal of Health &
Productivity Article on TRT
Employer
University of California San
Diego
Participants
241administrative
employees
Focus
Early
intervention manual therapy treatment in reducing costs and employee
presenteeism due to pain
Key
tool
Modified
Work Limitations Questionnaire
Presenteeism
Findings
Mean
cost/employee reduced from $3846 to $2087, a 46% decrease
ROI
292%
due to productivity gains
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
approached Intel, a key member of its Business Leadership Council, as a
possible site. Sue Adams, RN, BA, COHN-S, Global Health & Wellbeing Manager
for Intel, explained that the pilot “seemed a pretty good match” with Intel’s
health and productivity strategy. The firm’s worksite record “always ranks
among the most safe” among all semiconductor businesses. Intel’s outcomes are
due to diligence in workplace engineering, education of individual employees on
ergonomic improvements, and reviewing and engaging best practices identified by
others. It also has added such benefits
as onsite massage therapy, paid for by the employees, where employees have
requested the service.
Recent
performance, however, “has been flat,” according to Intel's Corporate
Ergonomist, and pilot coordinator John Schaab. Some 42%-45% of serious injuries
at the firm continue to be related to musculoskeletal issues. Says Schaab:
“This partnership with IHPM is joining with our current wellness efforts that
target reduction in musculoskeletal disease.”Adams
clarifies: “Focus on prevention is #1 for us. Early reporting is our second
focus. The third element is treatment.”
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. The
pilot, which will involve 250 employees, began in April 2008 and runs through
July 2008. Participants will receive four treatments, each a week apart. Employees
come to a room which was set aside for treatments by a group of therapists
trained in the procedure by Dorn. IHPM’s Nevins notes that outcomes measures
include self reports together with Intel’s internal data related to such things
as pain relief, time off work, use of medications, new injuries, and other
medical costs. A presenteeism measure is included. States Schaab: “IHPM
developed the measurement tool, but some changes were made to make the
questions fit our work environment.”
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.
While
no data had been analyzed as of this writing, Schaab notes that the “word of
mouth has been positive” from the first group of participants. Speculation on
potential expansion if outcomes are positive is premature. “After any pilot we
do a thorough analysis of how to fund it, what the ROI would be.” Adds Schaab: “We’re
a data-driven company.”
Del
Dorn, the experienced Rolfer who developed the TRT, suggests that if Dorn’s
past experience holds true, Intel’s evaluation of the program may be factoring
in some additional qualitative outcomes as well as the pilot’s hard data. Says
Dorn; “We sell almost 100% of our customers on money, data, savings and
numbers. Yet when we go back in and ask how it’s going, they tell us, ‘you
know, our employees love this, it generates a huge amount of buzz, it’s a
water-cooler topic.”
Attendees
at the October 2008 IHPM Eighth Annual International Conference will learn to
what extent the promise of positive quantitative and qualitative outcomes will have
been realized by this pilot with
semiconductor leader, Intel.
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