Rx for workers’ comp woes at Catholic Healthcare West

Citation

Vaughn, R. (2006), "Rx for workers’ comp woes at Catholic Healthcare West", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 14 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/hrmid.2006.04414dad.012

Rx for workers’ comp woes at Catholic Healthcare West

Rx for workers’ comp woes at Catholic Healthcare West

Vaughn R.Risk Management (USA), December 2005 Vol. 52 No. 12, Start page: 10 (7 pages)

Purpose – To look at how employees of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) hospitals receive prompt medical attention, are guided through the treatment and rehabilitation process, and are brought back to work as speedily as possible. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the features of CWH’s workers compensation programme, and the responsibilities of the director of the scheme for the financial and actuarial management of the organization’s trust as well as professional liability and other risk services, and at the role of the manager of workers compensation in handling the day-to-day operations of the compensation programme, directing each facility on best practices, and managing the performance of the third party administrator. Outlines the range of potential hazards within a large hospital system, and the particular objectives of CHW’s compensation programme, centred on reducing the frequency of workplace injuries, controlling medical costs, reducing loss days, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the claims process. Looks at CHW’s emphasis on establishing a cultural shift towards preventing injuries and creating a safe work environment, and its establishment of four process controls which helped to bring about the desired behaviours: senior management involvement and incentives; aligning the technology infrastructure to achieve objectives; a scorecard approach to metrics; and individual and system-wide roles and responsibilities. Reports how CHW then communicated and implemented the programme’s vision within the organization through training sessions at individual facilities that focused on reducing indemnity injuries, decreasing loss days, improving the claims process, and controlling medical costs. Reports a subsequent 40 percent reduction in indemnity injuries, significant savings in medical costs, and a 54 percent reduction in loss days. Originality/value – Presents a case study of the successful implementation and management of a workers’ compensation scheme at one of the USA’s leading hospital groups, aspects of which could be adapted for other sectors.Style: Case study35AC845

Keywords: Accident insurance, Health services, Injuries, Workplace