White Paper

Treating Injured Workers Like Athletes: Why Early PT Is Key to Claims Success

Early PT can be the key to improved injured worker outcomes and lower claims costs. How can workers’ comp promote quicker access to care?
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White Paper Summary

Any sports fan can probably recall a moment when they saw a professional athlete get injured on the field. A wide receiver limps off the field grabbing his hamstring. A basketball player sprains his ankle. An outfielder nurses his shoulder on the way to the dugout.

For common musculoskeletal sprains, strains and similar injuries, athletes will be in PT almost as soon as they’re off the court — getting them back to full health and function will be top priority for their teams.

That immediate access to PT has proven results, and it’s caused some in the workers’ compensation industry to wonder what would happen if injured workers got that kind of care. After all, a professional athlete is also just a worker doing a job.

“What’s the difference for an industrial athlete that is working in a coal mine and a professional athlete that’s on a football field?” said Greg Nichols, PT, president of SPNet, a division of MedRisk. “They’re still trying to make a living for their family.”

A growing body of evidence suggests that fast and direct access to PT improves outcomes for injured workers and can reduce claims costs. Now, new technologies are helping payers and their PT partners catch potential claims hurdles earlier and improving communication throughout the workers’ comp process.

To learn more about MedRisk, please visit their website.

MedRisk is the leader in physical rehabilitation for the workers’ compensation industry. Our clinically based program ensures evidence-based care, reduces costs, and promotes return to work.