New handbook to support Kentucky health care providers with return-to-work solutions
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2025) — Health care providers across Kentucky now have access to a vital new resource aimed at improving outcomes for patients recovering from injury or illness.
The “Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Handbook: Healthcare Provider Edition” offers practical tools and guidance to help providers support their patients in safely returning to work.
It was developed through Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) Kentucky. The completed federally funded initiative explored stay-at-work/return-to-work strategies and worked with employees, employers and health care providers to address issues.
This comprehensive resource is the result of a collaboration between the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) and the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
The handbook is designed specifically for medical professionals who play a critical role in a patient’s recovery and workforce reintegration.
“Work is a health outcome. By equipping providers with this resource, we are strengthening the bridge between clinical care and workforce participation,” said Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Ph.D., a researcher at HDI.
Research shows that the longer a person remains out of work due to injury or illness, the less likely they are to return at all. Delays in returning to work can contribute to long-term disability, loss of income and negative health outcomes. Early, proactive support from healthcare providers is key to reversing this trend and promoting better outcomes for both patients and employers.
“Returning to work after a health setback is often a key part of a patient’s recovery journey,” said Sheppard-Jones. “This handbook provides actionable strategies for health care providers to be confident in communicating about the return-to-work process, understanding workplace accommodations and coordinating care that supports both health and employment goals.”
The provider edition of the handbook includes:
- Guidance around functional assessment
- Overview of the stay-at-work/return-to-work process and documentation
- Best practices for treatment plan development
- Role of universal design, assistive technology and accommodations
- Information on legal and vocational resources available to patients
The health care provider edition of the handbook is available for free download at the Stay At Work Kentucky website.
An employer edition will be released soon to provide parallel guidance for businesses in supporting their employees’ return-to-work efforts.
About RETAIN Kentucky
In 2018, RETAIN Kentucky began as a pilot program, which served more than 200 employees and trained more than 1,100 health care providers and constituents. In 2021, the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation received a $21.6 million grant to fund a second phase of the program, which includes statewide expansion to serve more than 3,000 employees.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.