Search
 

Catastrophic Case Management Goes International

In the workers' compensation system, medical case management has typically been either "telephonic" or "field." But today we are seeing a third type: catastrophic international case management.

By Harmony Nicole Fortenberry | Updated on September 15, 2009

In the workers’ compensation system, medical case management has typically been either “telephonic” or “field.” But today we are seeing a third type: catastrophic international case management.

Telephonic case managers coordinate with the injured worker and treating providers without face-to-face interaction. Although some telephonic case managers are RNs and handle complex cases, often these case managers have less extensive clinical backgrounds and are limited to scheduling appointments and facilitating communication between the patient, the employer/carrier and the health-care providers.

The typical field case manager is a seasoned rehabilitation specialist (typically an RN) who lives in the local area and brings value to both the injured worker and the insurance adjuster by knowing the local medical community and understanding the medical issues resulting from the work injury. The field case manager helps the worker understand his injury and helps the adjuster (who often lives in a different city or state) find the most appropriate health-care providers. The more serious the injury, the more value a case manager can bring to the claim.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Dig Deeper

Recommended Stories

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.