Findings in Injury, Disability and Rehabilitation Reported from University of Sydney (Issues facing employability assessment in total and permanent disability insurance claims: A rehabilitation perspective)

2019 NOV 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Business Daily -- Investigators discuss new findings in Injury, Disability and Rehabilitation. According to news reporting out of Lidcombe, Australia, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “Expert employment information helps life insurers to decide total and permanent disability claims. The employability assessment model was developed a decade ago by rehabilitation counselors and has not been critically examined.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Sydney, “This exploratory descriptive study aims to elicit key issues of employability assessment within Australian life insurance. Ten rehabilitation advisors with knowledge of employability assessment in the total and permanent disability sector participated in a single focus group. They each nominated issues of concern about employability assessment. These issues were collated then discussed within the group. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify key issues. The predominant theme was the forensic nature of employment evidence. There were three categories of key issues. First, assessment providers-their training, qualifications, experience, and role. Second, methodology-approaches that provide most realistic information about a claimant’s likelihood of work. Third, policy definitions that illustrate reliance on legal interpretation of employability. To withstand legal scrutiny, the credentials of providers, assessment methodology, and quality of forensic reports are key issues which need to be addressed.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This foundational study will contribute to broader research on this topic, with implications particularly for rehabilitation, life insurance, and claimants.”

For more information on this research see: Issues facing employability assessment in total and permanent disability insurance claims: A rehabilitation perspective. Work, 2019;():1-9. Work can be contacted at: IOS Press, Nieuwe Hemweg 6B, 1013 BG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Sage Publications - http://www.sagepub.com/; Work - wox.sagepub.com)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.E. Black, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. Additional authors for this research include L.R. Matthews and M.J Millington.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-193018. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the journal Work is: IOS Press, Nieuwe Hemweg 6B, 1013 BG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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