The examination of the reintegration report from a social-medicine point of view: the assessment  process of the vocational expert and the physician of the Social Security Institute (UWV)

Summary:

Within the framework of the Gatekeeper Improvement Act (WVP) after 1 year and 9 months of sickness absence the reintegration efforts ought to be assessed, for reasons of the application for the Disability Insurance Programme (WIA, formerly WAO). This assessment of the reintegration efforts (RIV assessment) is done by the vocational expert of the Social Security Institute (UWV). The aim of the RIV assessment is to determine whether enough activities focused on reintegration have been undertaken by the employer, employee and occupational physician to realise  (partial) return to work (RTW). When insufficient reintegration efforts have been made the application is delayed, and the employer and/or employee receives a monetary sanction, depending on who has omitted to perform the obligated reintegration efforts.

The goal of this research project is optimisation of  the quality of the RIV assessment. The decision of the vocational expert, the way this decision is made, and the framework on which the decision is based are the subjects of this project.