This post is by Anthony Savage of Sparta Health
For the period of 2016/17, there were 1.3 million work-related ill health cases, 70,116 non-fatal and 137 fatal injuries, as well as 31.2 million working days lost. To put this into context, in the UK the annual costs are estimated at 9.7 billion relating to new cases of ill-health and 14.9 billion related to work-related injuries or ill-health for the period of 2015/16 (1). These facts highlight the increasing challenges employers are facing in the health, well-being and absence management arena, with the last few years seeing a surge of focus in these areas. The CIPD reports that just over half of organisations agree that employee well-being is on senior leaders’ agendas, however nearly one in five reports that their organisation is not doing anything to improve employee health and well-being (2).
Many employers attempt to address these challenges, by rightly implementing Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), piecemeal health & wellbeing initiatives, or through using Occupational Health Professionals after there is already a problem. I very much agree that there is a place for these services, however, I believe that the wide-ranging skills of an experienced Case Manager are often vastly overlooked as a support resource available to employers, a profession that is very much centred around overcoming barriers, formulating strategies and dovetailing together complex services. But what exactly are Case Managers and how can they work collaboratively with employers to help them overcome their health, wellbeing and absence management challenges?
What is Case Management?
The Case Management Society UK (CMSUK), defines Case Management as a collaborative process which: assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates options and services, using communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes (3).
Case Management originated in the USA and is now widely used globally, to meet wide-ranging needs, to improve people’s lives and promote independence, as well as for implementing cost containment solutions and ensuring resources are used efficiently.
What a Case Manager can do for your Business
A Case Manager's role can be critical to reducing the impacts of injury or illness within the workplace. An employer could collaborate with a Case Manager to:
- assess current absence levels, management strategies, health & wellness initiatives, as well as with implementing new programmes and initiatives.
- help with managing broader issues of return to work within an organisation.
- provide assistance, support, guidance and signposting to injured or sick employees, as well as to make referrals to other services, such as Occupational Health where appropriate and at the right time.
- monitor absences and incidents from day one to ensure proactive early intervention in cases of injury or illness.
- provide advice and create early opportunities for a suitable phased return to work
- ensure employees are appropriately, actively and cost-effectively managed back to work following an injury or illness, through implementing the correct medical and return to work support at the right time.
What Benefits Should an Effective Case Manager Deliver?
- Improved employee health, wellbeing and engagement levels, through well-managed health, wellbeing and absence management programmes.
- Provide the business with a broader understanding of injuries and absence reasons, as well as assisting in identifying trends, and providing clear strategies on how to address these.
- Help demonstrate a tangible return on investment (ROI) following the implementation of initiatives, as well as a reduction in lost time, in absence rates and frequency, in addition to increased productivity across the organisation.
- Assist in minimising the risk of personal injury claims against the organisation, which can have a negative impact on claims experience and increase premiums.
- Case Management, as well as the implementation and coordination of other health & wellbeing benefits, can be a crucial business differentiator when looking to recruit and retain staff
In Summary
It is clear that Case Management professionals have much to offer employers, both from a proactive, preventative perspective, but also from a day-to-day operational and strategic perspective. If you would like to know more about how these services can help your business, for a free, no obligation discussion on your requirements, feel free to contact us.
About Anthony Savage
Anthony Savage is the Medical Services Manager at Sparta Health, having joined the team in 2017 and is responsible for the overall operational delivery of our high quality services to our clients. He has a solid background in workplace physiology, as well over 12 years of delivering, and holding senior management positions, for leading injury and condition management providers.
He is known for his innovative approach in his design and execution of services and his ability to build enduring relationships.
References
- Health and Safety Executive. 2017. Health and safety at work:Summary statistics for Great Britain 2017. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1617.pdf. [Accessed 31 May 2018].
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. 2018. Health & Well-being at Work. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cipd.co.uk/Images/health-and-well-being-at-work_tcm18-40863.pdf. [Accessed 31 May 2018].
- Case Management Society UK. 2018. What is Case Management?. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cmsuk.org/case-management/what-is-case-management. [Accessed 31 May 2018].