Superba Jackson got so ill from the fumes when her office in Ambulatory Care was being painted, she had to go home – and she couldn’t return for three months, until the renovations were complete.

Fortunately for the Georgia LPN, the region had just launched its Integrated Disability Management (IDM) program, which gives Kaiser Permanente employees who are ill or on disability the option of returning to work in a different capacity.

For Jackson, who was well enough to work, just not around the oil-based paint used at Panola Medical Offices, the program was a financial lifesaver.

“I was not physically injured but I would have had an asthma attack if I went into that department,” said Jackson. “Without the IDM program, I would have been home, waiting on disability and not able to earn a penny—and I have to earn my pennies.”

Without the IDM program, I would have been home, waiting on disability and not able to earn a penny—and I have to earn my pennies.

Every KP region is required by the National Agreement to launch an IDM program by 2010. So far, all but Southern California have fulfilled that obligation. Plans to launch the program in that region are pending. Georgia’s program launched in November 2008.

The IDM program benefits employees because it minimizes the use of PTO and disability and can enable them to collect their full pay, said Phyllis Stone, labor co-lead for the program in Georgia. Those on disability usually collect about 50 to 60 percent of their pay. The program also benefits KP, by saving in outsourcing costs, lost time and productivity.

“What’s so good about it, is that it’s voluntary,” Stone said. “Nobody can force you to get into the program. Some people may need longer to heal. But at least we have that option.”

In Jackson’s case, she was assigned to work at the Stonecrest Medical Offices on a special project designed to increase cervical cancer screenings. Thanks in part to her help, Stonecrest ended up with the largest increase in screenings in the region—a boon for quality and preventative care.

“She played a big role in our success,” said Ahadi Tyehimba, Clinical Supervisor at the
Stonecrest Medical Facility. “If she had not been able to do the patient outreach, the work would have been divided up between LPNs in Internal Medicine, who would have had to find time to make patient calls.”