Claims News Service, Feb.8, 10:37 a.m. EST -- Crawford & Company has designed new way of handling workers' compensation claims, called Crawford Integrated Services. The new model addresses workers' compensation challenges such as delivery consistency, the establishment of reserves with documented rationale, and most importantly, a plan of action to bring the claim to closure.

According to the company, their service-delivery model standardizes the workers' compensation claims-reporting process and delivers comprehensive, consistent, and goal-oriented return-to-work plans. This process reduces overall loss costs through the combination of an advanced IT infrastructure, evidence-based criteria, and the expertise of claims and medical professionals. Key features of the new process are early intervention, supportable recommendations, and quick decision-making.

Upon first notice of a claim, trained personnel begin processing the claim by asking a series of standardized questions designed to assess the severity of the injury. A supervisor then reviews the file and assigns it to a medical-only or lost-time adjuster. Once a claim professional has interviewed the employee and obtained all relevant information, Crawford Claims Advantage identifies potential issues and immediately recommends proactive measures using evidence-based research.