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Over 32 million Americans have osteoarthritis (OA). Chances are good that some of your employees are among them. As an employer representative, you can make a positive difference in the lives of your employees with OA.

The pain, stiffness, and swelling from OA can limit adults’ function, mobility, and quality of life. These symptoms may affect your employees’ ability to perform daily activities and work routines such as writing or typing, standing or sitting for long periods, bending and walking, or going up and down stairs. As an employer representative, you can help reduce the burden of OA by expanding your knowledge of OA and its management, implementing arthritis-friendly benefit plans, workplace policies, and wellness and safety initiatives, sharing resources with your employees, and promoting injury prevention. In addition to exploring the resources for employer representatives listed below, consider making the OACareTools resources for adults and employees available to your workforce.

 

Osteoarthritis in the Workplace

Osteoarthritis in the Workplace

INFOGRAPHIC: Provides a general overview of OA, including its impact on employees, comorbidities, and employers’ bottom line

 

Osteoarthritis: A Serious and Costly Disease

VIDEO: Highlights some of the financial costs of OA to employers and employees

 

 

How Arthritis Impacts your Workers

How Arthritis Impacts your Workers

HANDOUT: Explains how employers can help reduce the economic and personal burden of arthritis through benefits plans, workplace polices/programs, and safety initiatives

 

OA Prevention: Connecting OA and Weight

OA Prevention: Connecting OA and Weight

HANDOUT: Explains how OA and obesity are interconnected and suggests strategies that can help prevent and manage both diseases

 

 

Can Osteoarthritis be Prevented?

VIDEO: Describes the importance of injury prevention and weight management as strategies for preventing OA and suggests actions to help reduce the risk of developing OA

 

Functional Assessments for Patients with Knee & Hip Osteoarthritis

 

Functional Assessments for Patients with Knee & Hip Osteoarthritis

ACTION BRIEF: Describes how providers can use functional assessments in OA care

 

 

Functional Assessments in OA Care Video

A practicing nurse practitioner shares his thoughts on using functional assessments in OA care and provides some practical tips for implementing assessments into routine care.

 

Functional Assessments in OA Care: Speaker Guide

 

Functional Assessments in OA Care: Presentation

Functional Assessments in OA Care: Speaker Guide + Presentation

This presentation provides an overview of some of the functional assessment tools currently used in OA clinical trials and in OA clinical practice. The presentation also comes with a speaker’s guide.

AAEBI seal

Arthritis-Appropriate, Evidence-based Programs

HANDOUT: Describes the physical activity and self-management education programs available in community settings to help adults manage arthritis

 

OACareTools brochure

OACareTools Toolkit Brochure

BROCHURE: Describes the resources contained in OACareTools and can be used to promote the Toolkit to healthcare providers and their patients & employers and their employees

The information provided in these resources is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.

OACareTools