In a tough economy, employers require effective and innovative ways to improve workers' compensation results. Many program managers are updating their approach and leveraging early intervention such as prompt reporting, nurse triage, proactive claims management, and integrated return-to-work (RTW) coordination to improve performance. These strategies are designed to manage work-related injuries right from the start and bring about best possible outcomes.

Improving the Reporting Process
A common challenge for many employers is the delay that often occurs in reporting outcomes. This triggers a chain reaction of setbacks in managing medical, claims, and RTW outcomes. In this scenario, a program becomes reactive and ineffectual in bringing about optimal results. Early intervention is designed to initiate a proactive and coordinated response at the earliest, most critical point at which organizations can impact quality care, costs, and outcomes.

The first component of early intervention is timely reporting of injuries. Although it is well understood that immediate injury reporting leads to improved costs and outcomes, there are many barriers to achieving this best practice. As a result, employers can experience as much as a five- to ten-day delay in receiving injury reports.