Sure, accidents happen. But what do you do when you suspect some of those workers’ comp (WC) claims are being exaggerated? Try what this company did.
During a review of recent WC claims, the employer noticed a disturbing trend: Some doctors were ordering extensive — and expensive — tests for injuries that other docs handled in an office visit or two.
The key to getting situations like these under control: consistency.
The organization established a “medical emergency protocol.”
To do something similar, you might:
- require all on-the-job injuries be reported immediately
- list a physician to whom injured employees should report
- name referral specialists for a particularly tricky injury, like back injuries. (You might also designate a chiropractor in case folks wanted to go that route to recovery), and
- designate a specific emergency room for all second and third shift injuries.
You will have to make it clear to employees that the protocol isn’t optional. This employer went so far as to say that if these steps weren’t followed, a workers’ comp claim might be denied.
It was well worth the effort to set some standardized practices for this organization: They enjoyed a jaw-dropping $186,000 reduction in its workers’ comp costs two years into establishing its protocol.
You’ll also want to be confident that you have thorough and frequent safety training to minimize injuries from the start.