What Is a COHE? Washington’s Centers of Occupational Health & Education, Explained
A COHE (Center of Occupational Health & Education) is a program created by Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to help injured workers heal faster and return to work sooner. COHEs partner with medical providers across the state and train them in occupational health best practices — early return-to-work planning, prompt communication with employers and claims managers, and the timely documentation an L&I claim depends on.
Research behind the COHE model shows these practices measurably shorten disability duration and reduce the chance a temporary injury becomes a long-term one. Western Washington’s program is the COHE Alliance of Western Washington, administered by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
Our role: COHE Provider Advisor
Dr. John Abaño serves as a Provider Advisor for the COHE Alliance of Western Washington — one of the physicians the program relies on to advise and mentor other providers on the care of injured workers. At Work Well Clinics, that means your claim isn’t just managed to COHE best practices; it’s managed by a physician who helps teach them.
What COHE care means for you
If you’re an injured worker: your L&I claim is handled by a clinic trained in the state’s best-practice standard — faster paperwork, a clear return-to-work plan from day one, and fewer stalled claims. You keep full choice of provider; seeing a COHE-affiliated clinic simply means your care follows the model L&I built to get workers healthy and back on the job.
If you’re a referring provider, claims manager, or attorney: referring to a COHE-affiliated practice means the occupational side of the claim — activity prescriptions, employer communication, L&I forms, return-to-work coordination — is managed to the program’s documented standards, with reports back to you after the first visit.
If you’re an employer: COHE-style claim management is associated with shorter time-loss and lower claim costs. Early return-to-work planning protects both your employee and your experience rating.
COHE — Frequently Asked Questions
What does COHE stand for?
COHE stands for Center of Occupational Health & Education. It’s a Washington State L&I program that partners with medical providers to apply occupational health best practices to workers’ compensation care. Western Washington’s program is the COHE Alliance of Western Washington, administered by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
Do I have to see a COHE provider for my L&I claim?
No. In Washington you can choose any provider in the L&I medical provider network for your workers’ comp claim. Choosing a COHE-affiliated clinic is optional — but COHE best practices are associated with faster recovery, faster claim processing, and better return-to-work outcomes.
What is a COHE Provider Advisor?
A Provider Advisor is a physician selected by a COHE to advise and mentor other medical providers on occupational health best practices — claim documentation, return-to-work planning, and communication with employers and L&I. Dr. John Abaño of Work Well Clinics serves as a Provider Advisor for the COHE Alliance of Western Washington.
How do I find a COHE-affiliated clinic near Seattle or Everett?
Work Well Clinics is a COHE-affiliated occupational medicine practice with locations in Seattle, Kirkland, and Everett. Call (425) 458-0054 or request an appointment online — same-week appointments are usually available, and no referral is required for L&I claims.
Injured at work? Get COHE-standard care this week.
Referring provider? Visit our Referring Providers page or call (425) 458-0054.