Improving Return to Work Outcome with Primary Care

ACC is seeking up to five entities to award a prototype agreement to, aimed at improving medical certification practice, and how clients are supported to stay at and return back to work after an injury. We are looking for entities that understand their local certification practices and have robust proposals for delivering effective improvements. Proposals should include intervention(s) to standard…

ACC is seeking up to five entities to award a prototype agreement to, aimed at improving medical certification practice, and how clients are supported to stay at and return back to work after an injury. We are looking for entities that understand their local certification practices and have robust proposals for delivering effective improvements. Proposals should include intervention(s) to standardise high-quality medical certification practices, and also intervention(s) to target support at those clinicians with patients currently certified off-work. Interventions must be practical, scalable, and beneficial to patients, clinicians, ACC, and New Zealand communities.

Suppliers will be responsible for implementing and managing their proposed interventions and will be expected to collaborate with ACC to refine interventions as appropriate. We require suppliers with coverage across multiple general practice clinics (i.e. “meso-level organisations”) and meaningful clinician influence.
What’s important to us

ACC seeks collaboration with the primary care sector to support patients’ injury management by improving the consistency and appropriateness of medical certification. There’s strong evidence that shows work can be a valuable component of a patient’s rehabilitation. It can keep them connected to work, maintain their income and maintain overall confidence. It can also provide useful physical activity and a sense of purpose, which all contribute to a better recovery. A safe and timely return to work not only benefits the patient, but also their whānau and their workplace.

Suppliers are required to demonstrate the capability and capacity to deliver certification interventions within their jurisdiction, alongside a history of implementing and delivering new initiatives with evidenced outcomes. Robust clinical governance with clear leadership and accountability is necessary. It is also expected that suppliers maintain stable financial health.

Meso-level organisations with smaller patient populations are not excluded from registering however ACC requires coverage of approximately 10% of New Zealand’s population across all successful suppliers’ patient bases.