Return to Work in Behavioral Health: A Clinical Guide for ProMedView Providers

Written By Delainne Bond

Return to Work (RTW) planning is a vital part of Workers’ Compensation care, especially for injured workers receiving behavioral health services. At ProMedView, behavioral health providers are specifically tasked with assessing psychological readiness for RTW, while the medical treatment team determines physical capacity and functional ability. This clear delineation of roles supports coordinated, interdisciplinary care and ensures that clinical recommendations remain within professional scope.

Behavioral Health Considerations for RTW

Your role as a behavioral health provider is to evaluate whether the injured worker possesses the emotional resilience, cognitive functioning, and coping strategies needed to return safely and sustainably to the workplace. Clinical areas of focus include:

  • Reestablishing routines and daily structure

  • Reengaging in social and occupational roles

  • Managing workplace-related stress and expectations

  • Identifying and preparing for trauma-related triggers (e.g., returning to the site of injury)

Key Questions to Guide RTW Assessments:

  • Can the patient handle workplace interactions, questions from colleagues, or supervisory oversight?

  • Are they applying coping tools and psychoeducation provided in therapy?

  • Is there a risk of emotional decompensation, trauma relapse, or symptom escalation?

  • Are they showing functional gains that support a phased or full RTW?

Documenting RTW Readiness

ProMedView providers should document RTW recommendations clearly, including:

  • Psychological readiness

  • Treatment progress and symptom management

  • Any limitations, accommodations, or phased scheduling needed

  • Justification based on clinical presentation

This documentation informs claim decisions and helps ensure that any return to work is safe, appropriate, and recovery-aligned.

RTW Language Examples for Behavioral Health Providers

Below are examples of commonly accepted RTW statements, organized by category:

RTW – No Restrictions

Appropriate when the injured worker is emotionally and psychologically stable and capable of returning to full-duty work.

  • “The patient may return to full-duty work effective [date]. No behavioral health restrictions indicated.”

  • “Psychological symptoms have stabilized. Cleared for unrestricted return to work. Follow-up in 4 weeks recommended.”

  • “Patient is fit to resume pre-injury duties without limitation.”

RTW – With Restrictions

Recommended when psychiatric symptoms or stress intolerance limit full reintegration. Restrictions may be short- or long-term.

Reduced Schedule (Phased Return):

  • “May return to modified duty beginning with 4 hours/day, 3 days/week. Gradual increase as tolerated.”

  • “Recommend part-time work (maximum 20 hours/week), with reassessment in 14 days.”

  • “Approved to work 4 hours/day, 5 days/week, avoiding high-pressure environments.”

Task-Based Restrictions:

  • “Patient may return with restrictions: no conflict resolution tasks, limited public interaction, and no solo field assignments.”

  • “Modified duty approved with accommodations: quiet workspace, no multitasking, breaks every 2 hours.”

Stress or Environment-Based Restrictions:

  • “May return to non-customer-facing role in a predictable, low-stress setting. Avoid emotionally triggering tasks.”

  • “Recommend return to sedentary work only. Continued anxiety reported in confrontational settings.”

Conditional or Time-Limited RTW

Used when recommending a trial return or planning re-evaluation of tolerance.

  • “Patient may trial modified duty starting [date]. Re-evaluation in 2 weeks to assess symptom management.”

  • “Approved to return to work with current accommodations. Weekly behavioral health sessions recommended to support stabilization.”

Clinical Documentation Reminders

Your RTW recommendation must be supported by observed symptom patterns, therapeutic gains, and functional indicators. Avoid commenting on physical readiness unless stating that the medial provider will opine on physical readiness of return to work.

By offering clear, clinically grounded feedback, ProMedView providers support safe return-to-work transitions, reduce the risk of relapse, and contribute to timely, effective claim resolution.

Delainne Bond

Delainne Bond, BSN, RN, holds dual degrees in Nursing and Neuropsychology. She is the Principal Consultant with ProMedView, Founder of the covidCAREgroup, and a PRIMA Board Member with the Tampa, Florida chapter.

Recognized as a leader in clinical solutions for complex injuries and illnesses, Delainne has a broad spectrum of clinical experience including Workers’ Compensation, acute and critical care in the hospital setting, occupational medicine, and community health.

In the national Workers’ Compensation arena, Delainne is a CEU Educator, and her experience includes leadership, risk management, catastrophic case management, mass casualty incident response, critical incident management, and provider network development.

Since the event of the pandemic, Delainne has devoted her clinical expertise to researching Long COVID, offering education and resources on a global scale through the covidCAREgroup.

In addition to educating providers, clinicians, attorneys, case managers, and nurses, Delainne has published many articles about Long COVID with ~6 million views in 2022. She runs the largest clinical social media support groups in the world with followers and collaborators including physicians, clinicians, and business leaders from 110 countries.

https://www.promedview.com
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