January 23, 2007

PDF format 36 Kb

Starting on February 12, 2007, if you've been off work for five days due to an illness or injury, you should expect to be telephoned at your home by an Early Intervention Program coordinator. (EIP is jointly-administered by your union and employers.)

After contacting you, the EIP coordinator will determine if you are eligible for the program and then describe how it can help facilitate your successful return to work. You'll then be mailed an information package that includes a letter of introduction and an assessment form to be completed by you and your doctor. The assessment will provide information about your illness or injury and an estimate of when you are expected to return to work.

Your EIP case manager, who is an occupational health nurse, will then help you develop a customized early intervention plan, ensure you receive all necessary medical care and work with you and your employer to accommodate your return to work. There is also employer and union reps who will deal with individual issues as they arise.

A joint steering committee comprised of five NBA reps and five HEABC reps helped develop the program, which they co-manage with the Healthcare Benefit Trust. An EIP working group, consisting of employer and union reps will report to the steering committee.

EIP PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

1. to initiate early contact with the ill/injured employee
2. to identify and provide appropriate case management of the ill/injured employee's health issues
3. to facilitate the rehabilitation of ill/injured employees while expediting a safe and timely return to work through an early return to work plan
4. to convey the message that employees are valued.

WHO IS AFFECTED
The Early Intervention Program [ PDF 92 Kb] is included in the new Nurses' Bargaining Association collective agreement, so it affects the vast majority of BCNU members. (But you're not covered by EIP if you work under the Public Service collective agreement or any of BCNU's independent contracts.)

WHO WILL BE CONTACTED?
Your employer will refer your name to EIP if you are a regular full-time employee who has been ill or injured for five consecutive scheduled working days. Regular part-time employees will also be contacted.

WILL MY PRIVACY BE PROTECTED?
Yes. The information you provide to the EIP coordinator is covered by the BC Personal Information Protection Act. Additionally, the Medical Case Manager is an Occupational Health Nurse/RN, and is bound by the professional standards expected of the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia and the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics.

Listed below are your local EIP committee members.