Sustaining an injury can be a life-altering event that affects an individual physically, mentally, and emotionally. During a challenging time, injury case management can play a crucial role in facilitating a comprehensive and proactive approach to the recovery process. Whether it’s a workplace accident or any other unfortunate incident, injury case management aims to provide the necessary support and guidance to ensure that the affected person receives the right care, assistance, and rehabilitation to return to work.
What Is Injury Case Management?
Injury case management is a specialized process that involves coordinating and supervising an injured person’s healthcare, treatment, and support services. It is typically facilitated by professionals known as case managers, Registered Nurses who possess expertise in various aspects of injury recovery.
Without effective injury case management, both employees and employers are at risk. Here are some of the direct and indirect costs to employers:
• Healthcare Costs: Average clinic and hospital cost is $500-$1,000 per visit
• Productivity: 2.7% decrease in Q1 2023 for labor productivity
• Workers’ Comp Costs: Employers pay $1B per week for direct workers’ comp costs alone
• Employee Turnover: $5,733 is the average cost to replace an employee
• Social ROI: “Supporting culture by caring for employees does more than help employees. Employers want to recruit and retain the best employees and supporting them (and their families) through injuries is critical to building culture.” – Dara Wheeler, Chief Marketing Officer at Axiom Medical
Inside Injury Case Management
Reporting & Assessment– The case manager comprehensively assesses the injured individual’s physical and emotional needs once the injury is reported. This initial assessment helps develop an individualized and appropriate care plan tailored to the specific needs of the injured person.
Treatment Plan– Case managers work closely with medical professionals and specialists to ensure the injured person receives timely and appropriate medical treatment and services. They coordinate communication between the various healthcare providers involved and work with their employer to effectively manage the case and return the employee to work.
Communication– Injury case managers support the injured employee, ensuring their rights and health needs are protected. They communicate with healthcare providers and employers to ensure seamless coordination and a smooth recovery process while also communicating with the employer to ensure updates are being reported.
Support– Recognizing an injury’s emotional and psychological impact, case managers provide emotional support to the injured person. They address concerns, provide information, and offer guidance to help individuals cope with their challenges during recovery.
Return to Work– Case managers work to support the return-to-work process by providing effective treatment plans to aid in a prompt recovery. They ensure that the employee is released and ready to go, providing functional capacity exams to verify that employees can safely resume their physical job descriptions.
Why Injury Case Management Matters
Injury case management is a critical component of the recovery process for individuals who have suffered injuries or incidents in the workplace. By coordinating care, treatment, and support, case managers ensure injured employees receive the comprehensive care they need while assisting employers in managing the process. Case managers are advocates for a healthy and productive workforce. Here’s how…
Comprehensive & Quality Care– Injury case management ensures that all aspects of an injured person’s recovery are addressed. By coordinating healthcare services, therapy, and rehabilitation, case managers help optimize the recovery process and minimize delays or gaps in treatment.
Better Recovery Outcomes– With their knowledge, case managers can identify the most suitable medical professionals and treatment options for everyone’s unique needs. They ensure that appropriate interventions are implemented promptly, maximizing the injured person’s chances of a full recovery.
Emotional Support & Morale– Dealing with an injury can be emotionally challenging. Injury case managers provide essential emotional support and counseling, helping individuals cope with the incident’s psychological impact and guidance throughout the recovery journey. When employees feel supported by case managers throughout their injury, it improves the morale of the workplace.
Improved Costs & Productivity– Not only do case managers improve the cost of an injury or workplace incident for the employer through comprehensive care, but they also improve productivity by ensuring employees return to the workplace fit for work. Case managers save companies time and money by providing the right care delivered at the right time to return the employee to the workplace.
Axiom’s Injury Case Management
The Axiom Medical difference in injury case management is that we are the only company that does dual physical + mental health assessments. We recognize the impact an injury can have on an individual, which is why we emphasize not only the physical health of an organization but also the mental health.
Our nurse case managers are U.S. based and licensed in all 50 states. We provide quality care for all with a medical translation company that can interpret 300 languages. Unlike most solutions for injury case management, we are independent of downstream revenue models, like insurance and clinic models. We’ve managed cases effectively for over two decades, keeping 70% in-house and managed at the first-aid level with early intervention.
Ready to learn more about the Axiom Medical difference? Contact us today!
Charli Pedersen is a published writer featured on Axiom Medical’s blog. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, Professional and Technical Writing, and has experience creating content for businesses and non-profit organizations.