Health Promotion Efforts Keep Employees On The Job

May 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Workers participating in a "comprehensive" workplace health promotion program had a one-fifth reduction in absenteeism during the first year, according to a study in the April Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).



Led by Maurice Niessen of the NDDO Institute for Prevention and Early Diagnostics, Amsterdam, the researchers evaluated a web-based worksite health promotion project at a large Dutch financial services company. The program used a "computerized knowledge-based reasoning system," which integrated the best available risk prediction equations with research-proven prevention and early diagnostic steps. [WCx]


The program emphasized low-pressure, low-intensity interventions — geared not only to employees' individual health risks, but also to their readiness to make lifestyle changes. Another key feature was assessment of mental health issues leading to burnout, a major cause of work disability in the Netherlands. 


Of about 11,250 employees invited, 3,900 enrolled in the program. After one year, the estimated absenteeism rate was approximately four percent for employees who participated in the program versus five percent for nonparticipants. Thus employees participating in the program had a 20 percent reduction in absenteeism in the first year. 


A growing number of companies are interested in workplace health promotion programs, with the goal of reducing health risk factors that lead to illness and lost job productivity. Studies of previous programs have not consistently shown reduced rates of absenteeism.


The comprehensive worksite health promotion program evaluated in the new study led to a significant drop in absenteeism rates. In fact, the improvement was achieved faster than expected; one year is not really long enough for lifestyle changes to have a meaningful impact on the risk of chronic diseases. [WCx]


Niessen and colleagues speculate that the program may have improved employees' psychological well-being or stress levels perhaps as a result of making healthy lifestyle changes or getting help with mental health problems.


Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He is an editor and contributor to Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.

 


 

 Editor Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Contact:  Mstack@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com. 
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL:  www.WCManual.com
MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR:  www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php

 

 

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.

 

©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.

Filed Under: Workers Comp News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

ACOEM Surveys Occupational Medicine Physicians in Federal Workers Compensation System

February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
In case you are one of the many people who doesn't know much about what happens when an employee of the federal government is injured, you aren't alone. Over the next few months, we'll be adding information to educate our readers about this aspect of workers compensation. 
 

The federal civilian workforce, nearly 3 million employees, is covered by the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) in the event of a work-related injury or illness. This program, administered by the Department of Labor's Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) covers civilian employees across the states and those assigned internationally.  
 

Occupational medicine (OM) physicians are uniquely qualified to support the federal workers compensation system in a variety of roles, including treating provider, specialty consultant, case reviewer, and independent medical examiner. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) a very highly regarded organization, is exploring opportunities for its members to become more involved in the federal workers compensation system. To learn more about ACOEM, their website is: www.AEOEM.org
 
 
Treating Providers
Some federal agencies employ occupational medical (OM) providers in their employee health units as treating providers, often offering care to injured workers who choose to use the agency's medical services. Physicians interested in providing care for injured federal employees may enroll with ACOEM as a provider. Providers are subject to a fee schedule.
 
 
Independent Medical Examinations
OM physicians interested in performing independent medical examinations (IMEs), not subject to the fee schedule, should write to their local , OWCP District Director, and ask to be added to the Physician Directory System.
 
 
OWCP independent medical exams are scheduled using a rotation system among the local available providers in the required specialty. If you are contacted to perform an OWCP IME, you need to enroll as a federal provider in order to be paid for the exam. Registration does not commit a provider to providing FECA injury treatment.
 

Source: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. “ACOEM E-News,” http://www.acoem.org/ACOEMNewsletters.aspx, January 2011, Volume 9 Issue 1. 
 
 
ACOEM is partnering with Managed Care Advisors, Inc., a company specializing in federal workers compensation. To learn more about ACOEM member experience and interest in the federal system http://www.acoem.org/.
 
 
Managed Care Advisors, a sponsor of Workers Comp Kit Blog, is an innovative, woman-owned small business enterprise specializing in managed care, employee health benefits and workers compensation consulting and case management services. Learn more about Managed Care Advisors at:  http://www.managedcareadvisors.com/.

 

WORK COMP CALCULATOR:   http://www.LowerWC.com/calculator.php
 
WC GROUP:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=1922050/
SUBSCRIBE: Workers Comp Resource Center Newsletter

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.

©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Filed Under: Federal Workers Compensation, Medical Issues Tagged With: , , ,

ACOEM Has Guide of Best Doctors for Work-Related Injuries

November 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has released a guide to the best physicians to provide care for people who have suffered work-related injuries and illness. It is titled A Guide to High-Value Physician Services in Workers Compensation: How to Find the Best Available Care for Your Injured Workers.

 

The publication was created in partnership with the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. It includes advice, checklists, and other tools to help identify doctors who adhere to best practices and are most likely to provide the best medical outcomes. (WCxKit)

 

“Most participants in the workers compensation system want to direct workers to high-quality medical care, but rarely have access to accurate and comprehensive data about physician practice patterns,” said ACOEM Executive Director Barry Eisenberg. The new guide provides a practical alternative that helps users ask the right questions to ensure excellent care, Eisenberg adds.
 
Free copies of the guide are available at www.acoem.org. From the top page menu, go to Policy & Position Statements, then Reference Material. (WCxKit)


Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact:  Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
 
WORK COMP CALCULATOR:   http://www.LowerWC.com/calculator.php
WC GROUP:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=1922050/
NEWSLETTER: Workers Comp Resource Center Newsletter

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.

©2010 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Filed Under: Medical Issues, Safety and Loss Control, WC 101 Tagged With:

ACOEM Guide to Care For Employees Injured at Work

September 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), working in partnership with the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), has released a guide to help employers and employees, insurers, regulatory agencies, and others in the workers compensation system identify the best available physicians to provide care for people who have suffered work-related injuries and illnesses.

Titled “A Guide to High-Value Physician Services in Workers’ Compensation: How to Find the Best Available Care for Your Injured Workers,” the multi-page document provides practical advice, checklists, and other resources and tools to help identify physicians who adhere to best practices and are most likely to provide the best medical outcomes when treating workers comp patients. (WCxKit)

“Most participants in the workers compensation system want to direct workers to high-quality medical care, but rarely have access to accurate and comprehensive data about physician practice patterns,” said ACOEM Executive Director Barry Eisenberg. “This guide provides a practical alternative – a methodical approach that helps them ask the right questions and find the information they need to ensure excellent care.”
 
Included is advice for identifying potential candidates, checking credentials and other criteria, learning about a physician’s practice style and general approach to care, and evaluating relevant clinical performance metrics. The guide includes tips for building a long-term relationship with physicians, including a periodic review process.
 
The guide is a synthesis of ideas and best practices contributed by a multi-stakeholder group of workers comp system experts – practicing physicians, employers, insurers and regulatory agencies – in a summit convened by ACOEM and IAIABC earlier this year in Nashville, Tenn. The meeting is one of several steps ACOEM and IAIABC are undertaking together to raise awareness of issues in worker’s compensation that are diminishing the quality of medical care for injured and ill workers and negatively impacting employers. (WCxKit)
Statistics show that workers comp medical costs per claim are rising much faster than medical costs in general and faster than indemnity costs per claim. Despite the rise in costs, health outcomes within the workers comp system, according to several major studies, are often worse than those obtained under other benefits systems. Studies also show there are inefficiencies in care delivery in the system and a lack of incentives for medical providers to promote effective, efficient and outcomes-oriented treatment as they diagnose and care for injured and ill workers.
 
“It is our hope that resources such as this guide will encourage workers, employers, insurers and others to increasingly seek out the physicians who are most likely to deliver the best care outcomes, and in the process help drive overall improvement in the workers’ compensation system,” said IAIABC Executive Director Greg Krohm.
 
Free copies of the guide are available for downloading at the ACOEM Web site (www.acoem.org) and the IAIABC Web site (www.iaiabc.org). At the IAIABC Web site, go to the “News” section; at the ACOEM Web site, go to “Policy & Position Statements,” then “Reference Material.”  The guide should be very helpful to employers trying to decrease their workers compensation costs.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact:  Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
 

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
 
©2010 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Filed Under: Coordinating Medical Care, Medical Issues Tagged With: ,

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