Files that were examined involved claims for the 10 most common worker injuries over a one year period. The injuries included lumbar strain, lumbar pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical strain, wrist dislocation, shoulder strain, ankle, knee and wrist sprains, and back strain.

Atlantic Mutual said it found that claims handled through an occupational clinic were 52 percent less expensive than those handled either by a general practitioner or the emergency room. Average indemnity costs on lost-time injuries were 49 percent lower; average medical costs were 29 percent lower; and the number of lost-time claims fell by 14 percent.

"We had an idea that the treatment was more effective at the clinics," said George Roberts, vice president of workers' compensation claims for the insurer. "We were looking for something to confirm our subjective opinion.

"It was not until we looked at all the claims and measured them that we knew the results were good. We did not know the results would be this good--much better than anticipated."

An occupational clinic is a health care center primarily dedicated to the needs of injured workers and employers, he explained. The facility offers treatment, diagnosis and management of work related illness and injury. The clinics in the study have been selected by Atlantic Mutual to treat workers.

In addition to treatment of injury, they offer pre-employment and post-employment physicals, and drug and alcohol screening. Because these doctors specialize in this treatment, he added, they are better able to judge when an employee can return to work or needs to be placed in an alternative work situation.

The study examined claims in nine states--Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. These states were chosen, said Mr. Roberts, because of significant injury activity and the extensive use of clinics in those states.

The clinics, he said, were more effective at treating workers' injuries because they are geared to this treatment and are able to render therapy and care more quickly than other facilities.

"You can't wait for treatment to be done," observed Mr. Roberts. "Patients do not want to wait weeks to get to a physical therapist. The clinics are faster and work without delays."

The company also wants to make sure that the care workers receive is quality care, noted Mr. Roberts, adding that expedited quality care not only benefits the insurer and policyholder, but the worker as well.

A measure of the quality of care, the company said, is that only 5.1 percent of claims handled by the occupational clinics went to litigation, and legal costs fell 54 percent.

Atlantic Mutual also follows up nationwide with a survey to the injured employee within 30 days after the claim is reported to determine satisfaction with the program.

Mr. Roberts said that negative comments are followed up on, adding that an effective and satisfying workers' comp treatment program is in the best interest of everyone.

He said there were no figures available to indicate how many employees were satisfied with the care, but he said the surveys showed "overwhelming" satisfaction with their care.

This is a one-time study, Mr. Roberts said, but could be done if the company feels there is reason to do so.