The first 30 days following an injury is critical to determining the outcome of a claim. After an employee is injured on the job, various factors impact their recovery, including the quality of care they receive and their level of engagement in recovery.
The way a claim is handled at intake sets the tone for the trajectory of the claim and impacts its ultimate outcome. Diane Blaha, CorVel’s Chief Marketing Officer, explains in a recent Risk & Insurance article, “The first point of contact during a claim is the most critical…Approaching the claim from a place of compassion, applying solid managed care principles, utilizing technology embedded with clinical intelligence, and providing clinical resources at the onset of the claim ensures that employees feel heard and cared for, leading to positive relationships and faster recovery throughout the claims process.”
If managed in this way, intake can increase patient engagement and satisfaction, and also lead to faster return to work. By returning injured employees to health sooner, unnecessary costs are avoided and total claim costs are reduced.
To provide an extra level of care at intake, CorVel has developed a Care Advocate program to provide injured workers with clinical oversight in the first 24 hours of the workplace injury occurring. Care Advocates help injured workers navigate the most confusing parts of the claim process from the start, ensuring they feel empowered and cared for in their recovery.
Care Advocates educate injured workers on their medical diagnosis, guide treatment plans, and assist in providing return-to-work options. They ensure each individual injured worker is proactively involved in the process, rather than left in the dark on what’s going on with their recovery. This patient advocacy approach not only improves medical outcomes, but also makes the claims process more efficient and effective.
To learn more watch CorVel’s Care Advocate video.
