Failure to communicate: how terminology and forms confuse the work ability/disability evaluation process.

Objective: To describe the current confusion in physician communication of patient work ability to insurers and employers.

Background: Many medical conditions cause patients difficulty with resuming their normal work activities. Employers and insurers frequently ask physicians for information on patient's work ability.

Methods: A narrative review of the current status of physician communication to employers and insurers.

Results: Physicians frequently fail to understand the terms risk, capacity, and tolerance. Also, the forms sent to physicians by insurers and employers are themselves a problem.

Conclusion: Physicians need to be educated in work ability assessment, and the forms used for communication need to be standardized.