In the world of workers’ comp, time is money—but so is trust. And when it comes to rehab, communication between physical therapists, adjusters, and nurse case managers can make the difference between a smooth return to work and a drawn-out, costly claim.
As PT providers, we often spend more time with injured workers than anyone else on the care team. We hear their concerns, witness their effort (or hesitations), and see how they respond to physical and emotional challenges in real time. That gives us a unique and valuable perspective on what’s working and what might be getting in the way of progress.
Here are three powerful questions that adjusters and nurse case managers can ask PTs to unlock better insight, faster resolution, and improved outcomes.
1. “What’s the biggest barrier to this patient’s progress—beyond the physical injury?”
We document range of motion, strength, and other objective measures. But often, the real barriers to recovery are less about the tissue and more about the person:
- Fear of re-injury (kinesiophobia)
- Misunderstanding of their diagnosis or prognosis
- Lack of job-specific context
- Emotional distress or low motivation after prolonged time off
When this question is asked, it opens up meaningful dialogue and gives us a chance to address those barriers proactively through Pain Neuroscience Education, goal-based rehab strategies, or team discussions with the treating physician. We document the psychosocial issues as well as the physical because you cannot separate one from the other in many cases.
At Comp Rx, we welcome this kind of collaboration. When barriers are clear, the path to resolution becomes clearer, too.
2. “Are they truly ready to return to work or just ready to be discharged from PT?”
Meeting discharge criteria in outpatient PT doesn’t always mean someone is ready for full-duty return to work, especially if the job is physically demanding or requires sustained endurance, lifting, or positional tolerance.
This is where Work Conditioning and Work Hardening can be transformative. These programs simulate the physical and cognitive demands of real job tasks in a structured, progressive way. At Comp Rx, we believe transitioning to these programs sooner, when appropriate, often expedites return-to-work timelines and builds the worker’s confidence along the way.
3. “What else can we be doing—clinically or collaboratively—to support return to function?”
This is my favorite question. It shows investment in the process and creates space for shared problem-solving.
Maybe the patient would benefit from an FCE to clarify work readiness. Maybe modified duty needs to be revisited. Maybe they’ve plateaued in PT and it’s time to loop the physician back in.
At Comp Rx, we don’t keep injured workers in therapy just to check a box. If we recognize that PT alone won’t get the patient to their functional goals, we’ll communicate that promptly and refer back to the physician for next steps. Our goal is resolution, not redundancy.
Final Thought
When adjusters, nurse case managers, and providers stay aligned on function, readiness, and next steps, outcomes improve for everyone, especially the injured worker.
At Comp Rx, our primary goal is to support safe and meaningful return to work. But we also understand that in some cases, full-duty RTW may not be realistic, and that’s okay. When that’s the case, clear recognition of the likely direction of the case can help the entire team work more efficiently toward closure.
Whether we’re guiding someone toward job re-entry or helping clarify that maximum medical improvement has been reached, we’re committed to timely, honest communication that supports resolution.
If you’re looking for a rehab partner who prioritizes collaboration, functional outcomes, and clinical clarity—let’s connect. We’re here to support you in getting injured workers safely and confidently to the finish line.