As of October 1, there are changes to two key services provided through People(s) & Culture.
Short-term Disability and Accommodation Process
As of October 1, Cowan Group’s Return to Health services will start to provide third-party adjudication for all short-term disability and accommodation claims. This change enhances the privacy and confidentiality of employee medical information by ensuring that sensitive documentation is handled by disability claims professionals outside of Humber.
Key Benefits of Third-Party Adjudication:
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Enhanced Privacy: Medical documentation will no longer be shared with Humber’s Sr. Abilities and Accommodation Specialist. Instead, it will be securely reviewed by Cowan Group’s clinical team.
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Professional Oversight: Claims will be assessed by experienced case managers who specialize in disability and accommodation adjudication.
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Streamlined Communication: Employees will receive direct follow-up from Cowan Group, ensuring timely and consistent support.
The new process will be:
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Initiate the claim by emailing both your manager and occhealth@humber.ca. For short-term disability claims, this process starts after 5 days of absence.
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Send medical documentation directly to Cowan via secure email at rthclient.service@cowangroup.ca
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A Cowan case manager will follow up with you to guide you through the next steps
Anyone currently in the short-term disability or accommodation process will be contacted directly with next steps or information.
Exciting News: Enhanced Health & Wellness Support as of October 1!
We’re also pleased to announce that our new Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is Homewood Health. As of October 1, all full-time and regular part-time employees, along with their immediate family members, will have access to a comprehensive suite of health and wellness services through Homewood Health. These services were provided by Telus. Cases managed by Telus will move over to Homewood Health.
Homewood Health is a Canadian owned, nationally recognized leader in mental health and wellness, offering confidential, professional support designed to help you and your loved ones thrive, both at work and at home.
What’s Included?
Homewood Health’s EFAP services go far beyond traditional counselling. You’ll have access to:
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Counselling Services: Confidential support for personal, family, or work-related concerns. Services are available in person, by phone, video or via online e-counselling (message exchanges or real-time chat).
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Life Smart Coaching Services: Practical coaching for everyday challenges like parenting, eldercare, nutrition, and more. For the most part, these services are delivered by phone or online, and often include an assessment, a personalized package of information, and useful tools with your best interests in mind.
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Work-Life Services: Expert advice and resources to help you manage life’s demands with confidence.
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Online Resources: The program also offers access to a new innovative online experience called Pathfinder. Pathfinder is integrated into your experience on the online mental health platform Homeweb.ca. Pathfinder tailors personalized care plans and service recommendations based on your unique presenting issue, assessment of the severity of that issue and your unique preferences as well.
Need Support?
Contact Homewood Health at:
Phone:
1-800-663-1142 (English)
1-866-398-9505 (French)
1-888-384-1152 (TTY)
Web: www.homewoodhealth.com.
Additional details can be found on the People(s) & Culture – Homewood Health webpage.
This transition marks a significant step forward in supporting the well-being of our Humber community. We’re excited to partner with Homewood Health to provide you with trusted, confidential, and accessible care, whenever you need it.
Full-time and regular part-time employees, and their immediate family, may call Homewood Health at 1-800-663-1142, anytime day or night, 365 days of the year. In an emergency, immediate support is also available. Please be assured that when you use the program, it is completely confidential.
If you have questions about EFAP please contact us at oe@humber.ca.
