fit for work europe

Switzerland

A dynamic association tackles the impact of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) on the Swiss workforce

The Swiss FfW Coalition was founded in May 2010, coinciding with the launch of the FfW Swiss report. The Coalition brings together occupational health professionals, rheumatologists, rehabilitation physicians and representatives from patient organizations, along with key policymakers from the Swiss state secretariat for economic affairs.

A broad network

During the last two years a wide stakeholder network has been established, including health politicians, as well as representatives from federal offices, health insurers, researchers and health care professional groups. These relationships are developed each year around national health congresses, and especially at the annual national stakeholder meeting organized by fitforwork-swiss.

In addition to these events, fitforwork-swiss has launched various projects tailored to the specific healthcare and political system inSwitzerland. In the last few months, the Swiss Coalition has focused its attention on two flagship projects: A publication focusing on different forms of musculoskeletal diseases and early treatments, as well as an electronic documentation tool for physicians. You can find more information on these two new projects below:

Collection of exemplary cases: Return to work today in Rheumaschweiz Journal

MSDs can be a problem in various periods of life, can develop in manifold ways and are very differently treated. To explain the variety of possible situations and medical approaches, the Swiss Coalition has published a series of cases in the rheumatologists’ medical journal, Rheumaschweiz. These cases will also be put together in a separate publication under the name ’Return to work today’. The collection is complemented by conclusions and comments from the fitforwork-Swiss experts and additional stakeholders (Employer, Clinics), summarizing the most important obstacles and milestones during the course of a disease and containing recommendations for doctors and health care professionals.

Evaluation of work capacity: Wocado tool

The second flagship project for 2012, about to be finalized, is a documentation tool for physicians – developed by a team of occupational physicians, physiotherapists, ergonomists and IT experts. GPs and rheumatologists are often confronted with the difficult task of avoiding dramatisation of simple cases (such as back pain), while recognizing patients with a risk for chronification, in order to start an early treatment. The new tool, Wocado, (Work  capacity estimation support for doctors) is based on an electronic questionnaire that has to be filled in by the patient. This questionnaire records the requirements at his/her work place and relates them to physical capacities. The questionnaire is evaluated using an algorithm, to provide an estimate on ability to work, as well as providing advice. Fitforwork-swiss will launch this tool in 2012, promoting an emphasis on ‘abilities’ instead of ‘disabilities’. This should hopefully initiate a paradigm shift ,exerting influence on economy and legislation, but also on the structures of the re-integration in the labour market.

For further information on all projects, please visit: www.fitforwork-swiss.ch