10 Tips to Improve Injury
Management Results and Improve Your Bottom Line
Linda Rees-Murray, Injury Management Consultants
1. Telephonic Case Management is most effective in the first 30-days following
an injury. Report injuries quickly – within 24-hours – to effectively
control claims costs.
2. Allocate Workers’ Comp costs directly to profit centers and operating
locations. This will improve the effectiveness of your injury management
process.
3. Develop provider and clinic relationships. A disengaged provider network
slows both recovery and return-to-work outcomes for injured employees.
4. Have an effective Return-to-Work program. A sub optimal program will
inhibit the financial impact a nurse case manager can have on the claim.
5. Have a case manager who can negotiate a release to work directly from
the medical provider. This skill of negotiation is critical for a successful
Return-to-Work program.
6. Be sure your medical case manager provides you with the goals of the
rehabilitation plan so everyone knows what to plan for and expect.
7. Communicate these goals and timetable to the injured employee so that
everyone is on the same page.
8. Beware the unintended consequences of large managed care networks. Make
decisions based on medical outcomes, not discounts. Injured workers will
usually listen to the advice of a case manager when it comes to the quality
of care.
9. Focus care plans for injured workers on Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
and Return-to-Work (RTW).
10. Web-based technology allows all stakeholders to see what is happening
to an injured worker. Utilize this technology whenever possible. |