Case Study: Creating a Seamless Experience for Employees With Disabilities

Providing personalized support for employees with disabling conditions is challenging. Now imagine doing so with 5,600 employees spread across various clinics and facilities. But Regions Hospital, a full-service hospital and Level 1 trauma center serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, does just that.

The Challenge

Given the hospital’s sizeable employee population, Regions Hospital needed a disability program to help ensure its employees received tailored assistance to manage their health conditions. Regions Hospital wanted to implement a disability management program that would:

• Provide tailored support for employees on a disability leave or in need of accommodations
• Integrate into its existing wellness offerings

Customized Solutions

Regions Hospital’s HR team partners with a Workplace Possibilities^SM consultant who meets weekly with the hospital’s employee health and wellness lead nurse, Margaret Nielsen. The consultant helps the HR team in its determination of the appropriate return-to-work or stay-at-work solutions for each employee.

As part of its robust wellness program, Regions Hospital offers all employees access to its Resiliency Center, a quiet space for employees to relax and manage stress. Employees with disabilities are often emotionally spent, and the Workplace Possibilities program ensures they are referred to appropriate programs or benefits through the Resiliency Center as part of any stay-at-work or return-to-work plan.

Unparalleled Results

The collaboration between Regions Hospital and The Standard’s team has reduced Nielsen’s workload. The Workplace Possibilities consultant keeps Nielsen informed of how employee leaves are progressing and can manage return-to-work details. Since the consultant works directly with each client to understand restrictions and an expected return date, Margaret can spend her time preparing for their return.

The Workplace Possibilities consultant also helps keep departments better informed on the status of an employee’s return to work. Nielsen and the consultant inform each employee’s direct supervisor of their expected return-to-work date and discuss ways to implement accommodations.

Overall, the expertise provided by the Workplace Possibilities program has helped create a seamless experience for Regions Hospital’s employees. Employees appreciate the ability to voice their concerns to the consultant and have them addressed as part of their return-to-work plan. Through the program’s personalized support, employees feel reassured in returning to work.