We Want to Help You

Experiencing an injury or illness can be a stressful time and we are here to help you to help you every step of the way. We’ll work with you, your medical providers and department to help you recover as quickly as possible. We want your experience to be as convenient and as easy as possible so you can file your claim easily in two different ways.

STEP 1: File a request for service

STEP 2: Submit Forms

STEP 3: Case Management

STEP 4: Return to Work

STEP 3

Case Management

We work with other available programs and services to ensure that employees and supervisors have convenient and centralized access to a wide variety of resources and support. Among other things, the Work Connections team coordinates the services of health care providers and other professionals to promote recovery as well as to ensure appropriate return-to-work support is in place and benefits are provided timely.

Work Connections staff will assist and support you in the following ways during the recovery period:

  • Contact you on a regular basis and act as a central clearinghouse for information
  • Communicate with treating physicians and define options for treatment, facilitate care and identify what we can do to assist you during recovery
  • Provide ongoing status reports and projections to your supervisor with respect to your expected absence and duration of disability
  • Respond to your questions or assist with identifying the appropriate resources or content experts to respond to your questions about benefits, employment status, salary, and other issues that may arise
  • Explore options for assistance from other university resources
  • Provide appropriate updates to you, your department, and the physician as needed
  • Answer questions and provide health resources information to you, if needed

“The Work Connections staff helped me navigate through the paperwork related to my surgery and subsequent time off. They kept in touch via e-mail to make sure I was recuperating as expected. They served as advocates, as well as being liaisons between myself, leadership, and my care providers. I am grateful!”

Sandy Raymond
RN
Northville/Canton Infusion

“When I was in one of the most difficult times in mine and my family’s lives, it was so comforting to be able to reach out and feel as if I had my own personal cheerleader, reassuring me that everything with my job and my supervisor would be taken care of so that I could focus on my illness and healing. I don’t think I can express in words my gratitude for having the stress of any potential problems with my job lifted from me during that overwhelming period of my life.”

Celeste Weissinger
RN, BSN
University of Michigan Visiting Nurses

“Work Connections does an amazing job in recognizing just what it takes to get better: not just good medical treatment but a caring and knowledgeable staff that gives you time to heal and protects you from rushing back to work too soon. Every day after my hip replacement surgery I said to my husband: I’m so glad I’m not teaching. I would never have been able to do it and it was my Work Connections nurse who wisely told me so before the surgery.”

Deborah Dash Moore
Frederick G. L. Huetwell Professor of History and Judaic Studies

“I can’t say enough about Work Connections. They really understood my case and collaborated with me on a routine basis during my leave and after my return. Additionally, they connected me with other high quality caregivers so that I could just focus on wellness. In my 35th year as an employee I needed help and Work Connections came through in a way that can only be described as a blessing.”

Kevin Donovan
Business Planning Manager
Medical School

“I absolutely love Work Connections! This department is so very important to managers, supervisors and administrative assistants. They ensure that the correct documents are being used and verify information from medical providers. A quick referral to them can make a big difference in the workload surrounding an employee’s illness. They take care of the phone calls and follow up with the employee. I am happy Michigan Medicine has this service and highly recommend it.”

Robin Russell
RN
8 C Nursing Supervisor