Slides:
- How can the medical provider influence the number of injuries that occur at a company and the costs incurred from treating these injuries?
- Are all compensable injury cases also recordable?
- Are there other things a company can do to reduce injuries and their costs?
- What makes up a good loss management team?
- Are there any obstacles to providing medical oversight on Loss Management?
- What is the best case review model for loss management?
- Any parting thoughts?
Audio:
In our 22nd NAOHP Town Hall, we broached the fascinating topic of Loss Management. Led by illustrious figures such as Donna Lee Gardner, along with Dr. Dennis Murphy, the Occupational Medical Specialist from Self Regional Health Care, and Mike Schmidt, President of the NAOHP Board of Directors, the seminar dove deep into the waters of the Occupational Health sector – discussing the disparities, obstacles, and optimal strategies for effective Loss Management.
The Role of the Medical Provider
One of the primary methods of circumventing loss, and managing those that do occur, is through adequate Medical Oversight. This blend of preventative and responsive care can be instrumental in reducing the possibility of significant issues arising, as well as mitigating the severity of any losses that do occur —even when dealing with the intricate details of workers’ comp insurance.
The biggest obstacle to effective Medical Oversight can be the insurance providers themselves. The opacity of their processes could make it challenging for employers to get an accurate grasp of their costs and can leave providers in the dark about some aspects of the care provision.
The Importance of Education, Perseverance, and Management
Cultivating a corporate culture of safety and communication can substantially help reduce the number of workplace injuries which costs companies money. Encouraging employees to proactively correct hazards and report near misses can help prevent actual accidents from occurring. Training and educating not just the workforce but also corporate leaders on safety and health resources is paramount to achieving these goals.
Neue Challenges & Nuanced Solutions
A key struggle in managing losses is influencing the number of injuries in the workplace effectively. Understanding causality, identifying hazards, and championing continuous safety improvements all play critical roles in ensuring lower loss rates.
The Ideal Loss Management Team
Creating diverse, comprehensive loss management teams comprising safety engineers, manufacturing managers, case managers, legal teams, HR accounting, and medical providers can greatly enhance the effectiveness of loss mitigation strategies—enabling a company to approach the problem from various angles and devise more effective solutions.
The Vitality of Communication
Transparent, open communication with all stakeholders, including employers, patients, and insurers, can enhance the process of Loss Management tremendously. When all parties understand the decisions made regarding treatments, it eases the administrative burdens of handling worker’s comp cases.
The Path to Reducing Injuries & Costs
Identifying intrinsic issues that could culminate in possible injuries or accidents is critical—be it through maintaining drug-free workplaces, mitigating contamination risks or providing tailored ergonomic solutions. Raising awareness about available resources and being open to adapting to changing circumstances will go a long way in efficiently managing losses and reducing the overall impact of workplace injuries.
The thread that ties together efficient, effective Loss Management is the coalescence of all elements of a company—working systematically to spot challenges, creating novel solutions, and executing those solutions seamlessly. With the combined efforts of the entire team, losses can be minimized, and more happy, healthy workers can continue contributing their valuable skills to the team.
Stay tuned for our next town hall on June 8, where we’ll explore “Pre Authorization for Physical Therapy, Radiology, Diagnostics, Medical Specialties.”
Resources:
Work status Form via Google Drive
Activity Prescription Form WA L&I via Google Drive
Activity Prescription Form WA L&I via Dropbox
Loss Management Manual
Injury/Loss Management Service Line Model
The Loss Management Service is a proactive approach to injury prevention. Since safety is an essential component of this service line, client companies receive assistance with safety program development and implementation. Supervisor training for accident reporting and investigation is provided to clients on site. The development of functional job descriptions and the establishment of temporary work assignments are also components of this service line. Client companies send all injuries to specific OHS facilities for injury care. Standards are developed to ensure injury management is standardized to provide emergency care, follow-up referrals and company feedback for all injured worker medical data.
Loss Management Table of Contents
Page 3 – Injury/Loss Management Service Line Model
Page 3 – Contracts
Page 4 – Service Delivery
Page 4 – Data Management
Page 4 – Customer Service
Page 5 – Referrals
Page 5 – Care Management
Page 5 – Consulting
Page 6 – Loss Management Program Checklist for Program Components
Page 6 – Safety Program
Page 6 – Injury Management
Page 6 – Data Necessary for Analysis of Current Program
Page 7 – Implementation and Evaluation Procedures for the Loss Management Program
Page 9 – Physician Occupational Health Network Criteria
Page 10 – Facility Walkthrough for Health and Safety Hazards
Page 10 – Hazard Communication Program
Page 11 – General Housekeeping
Page 12 – Safety and Health Hazards
Page 14 – Emergency Preparedness
Page 14 – Conclusions
Page 15 – Loss Management Contract
Page 15 – Case Management
Page 15 – Early Return to Work
Page 15 – Policy Development
Page 16 – Work Products
Page 16 – Responsibilities of Company
Page 16 – Terms
Page 16 – Compensation
Page 16 – Changes
Do You Have Providers in Your Organization Interested in Learning More About Occupational Medicine Exams & Workers’ Compensation Management?
Check Out Our Occupational Medicine for Providers Course on NAOHP University
Fully Accredited
Thanks to Our Premier Sponsor for Town Hall – UL
UL’s SYSTOC Kiosk, automatic appointment reminders and no show notifications to the employer, help streamline the front desk workflow.
Download here: SYSTOC Kiosk for occupational medicine
