Dr Juan Jover - Head of Rheumatology, Hospital Clnico San

Carlos Madrid & Chair of Fit for Work Spain

Early Intervention


A cost-effective, evidence-based solution
to reduce the burden of MSDs
What does the future hold for us?
Ed Whitlock, 82,
running the Toronto
Waterfront Marathon
in November 2013
82-year-olds with
MSDs
(musculoskeletal
disorders)
MSDs. Were all in this together.
MSDs are the leading cause of sickness
absence and years lived with disability
in Europe

By 2030 50% of the population of some
EU countries will have an MSD

100 million Europeans are living with
musculoskeletal pain

In excess of 40 million workers have an
MSD caused by their work

MSDs diminish the European economy by
240 billions (2% GDP loss) every year

Sources: Global Burden of Diseases 2010, Eumusc.net (2013),
European Commission, EULAR, Fit for Work Europe
Early Intervention
MSDs can be manageable conditions
What is Early Intervention?
An innovative care programme:
Early diagnosis
Immediate specialist examination
Support for return to work
Targeted at MSD patients (who got a sick
note)
Purificacion Tejeda, a
patient of the Early
Intervention Clinic.

Watch her story at
blog.fitforworkeurope.eu
What patients will get:
Expert clinical management
Restraint from bed rest
Early mobilisation
Stretching exercises
Recommendations for optimal levels of
physical activity
Ergonomic training
Education
Return-to-work support
Innovating the MSD care model in Spain

Control Intervention
Days
0

2
5

5
0

7
5

1
0
0

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
%

o
f

p
a
t
i
e
n
t
s

b
a
c
k

t
o

w
o
r
k

Duration: 2 years
13,077 patients assessed
7,805 in the control group
5,272 in the intervention group
3,311 patients received in fact Early Intervention
Work Disability
Madrid, Spain
The results of the Spanish Clinic
Return to Work:
Temporary work
disability reduced by
39%
Permanent work
disability reduced by
50%
Patient satisfaction
increased:
90% at Level1
amongst the patients
discharged/returned
to work
Cost Benefits:
Decreased direct and
indirect costs
Recouped about 11
for every 1 invested
Why it works?
Patient-focused
&
Expert clinical
management
Expert assessment
Simple pathway
&
Rapid access
patient education,
self -management
confirmed diagnosis
GP referral to
rheumatologists
within 5 days of
sickness absence
Everybody wins with Early Intervention
EI improves patient functionality, work ability and work productivity.
EI eases their work, facilitating timely, accurate patient flow,
diagnosis and treatment.
EI is a sustainable solution, increasing the efficiency and
effectiveness of the healthcare delivery.
It can be adjusted to manage other chronic conditions.

EI contributes to increased cost savings to the health care and
welfare (social) systems, as well as the national economies.
EI ensures the maintenance of optimal productivity levels and
proper management of sickness absence and presenteeism.

Governments
& economies
Patient
Health
professionals
Health
systems
Employers
Thank YOU!
Dr Juan Jover Chair of Fit for Work Spain
fitforwork@theworkfoundation.com
Fit for Work Europe is led by The Work Foundation
and supported by AbbVie and GE Healthcare
www.fitforworkeurope.eu