Adopting an integrated app- roach to healthcare manag- ement could help companies maximise their ben...
Adopting an integrated app- roach to healthcare manag- ement could help companies maximise their benefit values and control absence management, claims Dr Mark Simpson, managing director at AXA PPP healthcare's Occupational Health Services.
Simpson told delegates at the COVER Protection Forum that firms should aim for a functional rather than medical recovery when getting employees back to work. Referring to the athletic model, Simpson highlighted the need for employers to adopt the approach taken by athletes who suffer an injury.
"In the case of like for like injuries, there is a three times' faster return to work when the injury is athletic compared to those from occupational causation. This is because the clinicians, coach, manager and team members all share the same goal - functional rather than medical recovery," he said.
To ensure employees return to work as soon as possible, Simpson proposed that companies integrate their healthcare manage- ment systems. To achieve this he said, occupation health clinicians, private medical insurance case managers and employee assistance programme psych- ologists should all work towards achieving the emplo- yee's full functional recovery.
Simpson stressed the role and education of case managers is crucial in the integrated health manage- ment process.
"There is an education role for case managers to set expectations," he said. "Behaviours are absolutely key in managing absence and the whole return to work process. Research has found that the only reliable predictor of the time it takes to get back to work is a relationship with the line manager."
