» Early Intervention

Five times greater return to work results at about the cost of an IME 

In 2005 Cascade Disability Management, Inc. conducted a detailed assessment of two years of historical vocational rehabilitation data. 

The results demonstrate a clear correlation between the referral lag (defined as time between the date of injury and the date of a voc rehab assignment), cost and outcomes.  The greater the referral lag, the greater the cost and the less likely an injured worker returned to work.  Building on this analysis and industry knowledge we designed a return to work program called Early Intervention.

Early Intervention is a common sense approach designed to leverage the core skill sets of a vocational counselor combined with three basic principles:

1. Early identification of target cases
2. Focus on return to work with the employer of injury
3. Deliver vocational rehabilitation services focused on outcomes, in less time, at a lower cost.

Cascade's multidisciplinary approach to the professional job analysis and our efforts to redefine vocational rehabilitation has led to a program with proven return to work results and has helped countless employers establish simple yet effective return to work programs.

Today's workers compensation environment is extremely complicated.  Insurers, Risk Managers and employers face new challenges ranging from medical inflation, changing regulation, natural catastrophes and terrorism coverage.  However, there remains a fundamental goal for employers to identify and mitigate losses if they hope to maximize future benefits in terms of a lower experience modification rating and lower premiums. While as industry claim frequency rates decline, claim costs continue to grow.  Indemnity costs increased 4% annually and medical costs at 10% annually.  The indirect cost of lost productivity can be more detrimental to an employer.

Early Intervention creates a significant opportunity to help employers and insurers to gain a competitive edge by making it possible for injured workers to re-enter the workplace much earlier than originally expected. Most importantly, customers who reported not having modified duty found that these jobs were possible and used their knowledge on subsequent claims resulting in untold savings and employee benefits.

We believe strongly that this program can help almost any employer in any state, regardless of vocational rehabilitation regulations. We want to prove it to you. To learn more about the program or to arrange a free consultation, please contact Tim Mitchell, Cascade Disability Management, at 800-234-8011 ext. 7385203 or by email at Timothy.Mitchell@CascadeDisability.com.