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Describing The Importance Of Independence

Posted July 7, 2015 by Victor Andres

I'm free! senior man get up from wheelchair and throw away his walking cane There’s a reason that our company is named Independence Incorporated. It wasn’t a name that we just settled on because we thought it sounded “official” or “prestigious”. And it also wasn’t a decision we fell upon because of its cool use of alliteration. At Independence Incorporated, we are firm believers in everyone’s right to be independent. And being united in this belief is what really helps to make our company name so apt.

Take a look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of “Independence”: “Not dependent: as 1) : not requiring or relying on something else : not contingent (2) : not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood)”. Now take a look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of “Incorporate”: “To unite or work into something already existent so as to form an indistinguishable whole: to blend or combine thoroughly: to give material form; to embody.”

The way we see it, our work incorporates the appropriate programs and services that promote statuses of independence among the clients that we serve. Our company’s specialty is vocational rehabilitation. We provide a long list of helpful services that focus on enhancing the overall independence of our clients at both their homes and workplaces. In many cases, we assist those with making transitions from states of illness or injury to comfortable returns to the workforce.

As a result, disability management is a major component to the help that we provide. At Independence Incorporated, we are committed to fully implementing the human approach to all that we do. And that’s because we’re focused on helping people. There is an emotional side to rehabilitation that is as important – sometimes more so – than the physical rehabilitation that often requires assistance.

We are also sensitive to the fact that many of our clients are faced with limited financial resources. Again, considering the emotional side of every client’s situation allows us to manage rehabilitation in ways that are uniquely considerate. We’re happy to report that our services benefit a wide range of people. They include clients, referral sources, family physicians and treatment providers.

Clients. Naturally, our clients are very important to us. We understand that during their time periods of illness or injury, it is imperative that they focus on improving their health. At Independence Incorporated, we make it our duty to assist with this process in the most helpful and attentive manners possible. Our clients greatly benefit from the individualized attention that they each receive.

Referral Sources. We also service insurance companies and employers. Naturally, they each have obligations that they are contractually liable for. Under their contractual agreements, they are required to provide medical and vocational rehabilitation services to their policy holders and employees during their times of need. Our involvement allows for appropriate services to be offered in order to enhance recovery rates and maximize states of independence.

Family Physicians and Treatment Providers. We also must ensure that we are openly communicating with the family physicians and treatment providers that are involved with our clients. With the permission of our clients, we provide progress reports to their doctors and other health care professionals who are involved in the rehabilitation processes. It’s all about promoting their independence together!

For more information about our company, please don’t hesitate to call Independence Incorporated at 204-478-6644 or email info@indep.ca.

Putting Health First With Our Working Well Program

Posted February 18, 2015 by Victor Andres

Patient doing some exercises under supervision “Health first”. This is a common idiom uttered by nearly all of us. And it’s likely that it’s become such a popular term due to its sheer obviousness. It’s true, isn’t it? Our health does come first. Because without our health, what else would we have? Clearly, it’s not possible to truly enjoy life without being able to live every day pain and illness-free. And it’s certainly not possible to be able to function adequately at work when there are health issues.

It goes without saying that your workforce is important to you. The fine individuals that make up your staff are the lifeblood of your business. They help for your company to function on a daily basis, and without them, your brand’s operations would cease to exist. Therefore, as a business owner, “health first” is an idiom that you also take seriously as it relates to your employees. At Independence Incorporated, we strongly support that way of thinking.

Our “Working Well Program” is designed to assist businesses with implementing the best practices possible to ensure that health and safety are key components to the working environment. We have devised a plan to address the health concerns of your team so that we can prevent injuries, manages stress and provide early intervention of musculoskeletal injuries. Our multidisciplinary team consists of a Registered Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Physiotherapist. And here’s what they provide.

1. Injury Prevention. “Knowledge is power” is yet another idiom that’s been thrown out there to connote how important it is to be educated about the issues that affect our everyday lives. In many cases, staff members require information to be delivered to them about the various ways that injuries can be prevented on the job. Our program’s education and training seminars go a long way in educating your team about the many ways to keep safe on the job.

2. Worker Wellness Support. Naturally, we expect to minimize the number of injuries that occur in the workplace with all of the education that our program provides. However, there is always the possibility that an injury can occur. And, of course, some jobs present more dangers than others. Our In-House Physiotherapy Programme works to rehabilitate those who have suffered injuries in order to promote a more speedy recovery.

3. Work-Flow Improvement. Sometimes, the biggest risks to our health and safety are found in the machinery, tools, supplies and materials that are being used in the workplace. Our program seeks to identify improper and unsafe body mechanics and provide feedback that serves to correct particular issues that may be deemed as dangerous. By making particular changes in the workplace, we strive to improve the overall safety conditions for all of your employees.

4. Work Re-Entry Support. As you know, there are some injuries that will require employees to take time off of work. In such cases, it may be necessary to facilitate an adequate work re-entry program. This way, the employee can experience a smoother transition when coming back to work after a prolonged absence due to injury or illness. By putting health first, your company will be given the opportunity to foster a stronger staff and therefore, a stronger business.

Your business is important to you. That goes without saying. So it should also go without saying that your employees are very important to you as well. At Independence Incorporated, we work to ensure that your team is well taken care of. And that helps to take care of your business. For more information on our “Working Well Program”, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly by calling 204-474-2228 or emailing victor@indep.ca.

Assessing Our Home Assessments Through Q&A

Posted November 25, 2014 by Victor Andres

Disabled rehabilitation A significant injury or illness is never a welcome circumstance. However, for thousands of Canadians, such an occurrence is an inevitability that requires significant rehabilitation. Naturally, time must be taken from work to battle such hardships, as a person’s health always comes first. This is why before a person returns to work, he or she must take the very important steps to ensure that the return to work is done at the appropriate time.

At Independence Incorporated, we offer Home Assessments as one of our many services. It’s important that individuals are able to perform all of the necessary functions that are required for living in their homes before they are able to get back on the job. As part of our assessments, we address issues such as accessibility and stressors – both actual and perceived. We also look to determine the number of responsibilities that may affect a person’s ability to handle everyday tasks.

Once an appropriate home assessment has been completed, we are better able to gauge whether or not a person who has sustained an injury or illness that has kept him or her from work is able to return to the job. As you can imagine, there are a number of questions that need to be both asked and answered in order to make the right decision. At Independence Incorporated, we seek to complete thorough examinations by performing a Q&A session.

Has there been a significant change in the working conditions? Depending on the amount of time that a person has taken off of work, there may have been some changes to the job itself. It’s important for us to determine if those changes are ones that can be handled by the returning employee. We seek to discover if there are any limitations that the employee may have before green-lighting the way back to the workplace.

Can the job at work be modified? In some cases – even when the working conditions may have remained the same – the returning worker may have some of those limitations we mentioned. If so, we seek to discover if any modifications can be made at the workplace to make the transition back to work more comfortable for the employee. It’s also important to know if further physiotherapy or other forms of rehabilitation are necessary.

Has there has been a change in the employee’s health? There are times when an injury can significantly change a person’s health. After all, rehabilitation can certainly take a toll on a person. So while an injury may be healed, the employee may still require other methods of recovery in order to achieve greater strength, energy and endurance levels. Before one can return to work, he or she clearly needs to be healthy enough to do so.

Is there a new medical condition that may limit a returning worker’s effectiveness? If an employee’s health has changed, the job description for that employee may need to change as well. In some cases, a person can return to work, but not necessarily to do the same tasks that were asked of him or her before the injury or illness took place. If a limitation reduces or prevents a person from performing a job effectively, a new position may be a better fit.

Can the employee safely return to work? There are, of course, those situations when an employee is simply not healthy enough to return to a job in any capacity. Further rehabilitation is necessary in order to get a person to a state of readiness. And this is very important. Returning an employee to the workplace before he or she is capable of doing the work is bad for both the business and the employee. A home assessment helps greatly to make the right decision.

Of course, there are a variety of other questions that we answer to make sure an employee is ready to return to the job. For more information about our Home Assessments, please feel free to call us at 204-478-6644.