Kiwis Helping KiwisBuilding the Capability to ImproveReturn to Work Rates

-a practical view

Presented byRichard Geisler1 December 2004Name 28+ font

Project Background

Initial hypothesis confirmed and two areas of focus identified:

Gap in the relationship between ACC and employers

Inconsistencies in return to work practice of all players

Project BackgroundThese short comings impact:

The ability of injured employee to retain their job & impacting their quality of lifeThe costs of absence & loss productivity for employerThe cost of job attainment down the track (for ACC and all)The Scheme - duration spill over and vocational rehabilitation costs

RTW Project RTW Project ObjectivesObjectives

Purpose and Players

Return to work project

goalTransitional RTW

Improved Claimant

RTW Outcomes –

mutual benefits for productivity, health and

the individualACC

Health Providers

Employer

Injured individual & personal

/whanau supporters

External Environment Influences(Govt & agencies, Health insurers, Tax payer, Voluntary

Sector, Labour Market etc)

Goals

Improve employment maintenance/retention

Leverage existing resources to maximise quick wins

We Needed to

– Empower Employers

– Enable Treatment Providers

– Support Case and Claims Management

– Work as a “One ACC” team

A Targeted ApproachA Targeted Approach

Targeted ApproachStarting with…….

Top 500 EmployersThe Champions

Many self insure risk

Then the next 2000

and…….

Treatment Providers & Physiotherapists

targeting…

– fully unfit medical certificates

Project MeasuresProject Measures

ACC’s Strategic Direction - The 5 Drivers

1. Reduce the rate of injuries and consequential claims by at least 10% by 2009

2. Provide early, effective rehabilitation, as measured by a decrease in the median duration of weekly compensation claims of one day per year for each of the next three years to 2007

3. Maintain overall Claimant and other stakeholder satisfaction at (or above) 80 – 85% to 2007

4. Increase staff satisfaction to between 80 – 85% by 2007

5. Maintain fair levy rates to 2007 ( for example, maintaining Employer levies at around 90 cents per $100 payroll

RTW Project Measures1. Reduce the median duration of weekly compensation

claims for targeted employers by 1 day for claims that exit within 3 months.

2. Reduce % injured employees on full weekly compensation

KPI

1. Reduction in 3 month duration rate for targeted employers 2. Build employer and ACC return to work (RTW) management

capability (confidence and competence) 3. Employer utility/take up of RTW guidelines (tips and tools)4. Employer satisfaction with RTW guidelines and customer service

KRAs

Performance measures - detailed measures exist - team & individual

Getting Started

• Using the data to gain useful information to understand the targeted employers strengths and weaknesses.

• Establishing a performance baseline to measure whether the return to work interventions for employers have worked.

The top 500 Employers payment type history

Sum of Number of claims that had time off work

Type of first comp payment (abated or full)

Type of last comp payment (abated or full) Total Total

Abate Abate 5% 453Full 5% 458

Abate Total 9% 911Full Abate 8% 767

Full 83% 8128Full Total 91% 8895Grand Total 100% 9806

The top 500 Employers injury historyTop 10 injury types based on the number of claims lodged between 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Sum of Number of claims that had time off work

Diagnosis Injury site

Median days weekly comp paid Total

Fracture/dislocation Ankle 47 327Hand/wrist 34 426Shoulder (incl Clavicle/blade) 28 267Upper And Lower Arm 36 351

Fracture/dislocation Total 1371Laceration,puncture,sting Finger/thumb 12 342Laceration,puncture,sting Total 342Soft Tissue Inj (contu,str,spr,int Ankle 20 689

Knee 21 766Lower Back/spine 17 1230Neck, Back Of Head Vertebrae 14 314Shoulder (incl Clavicle/blade) 20 510

Soft Tissue Inj (contu,str,spr,int Total 3509

Grand Total 5222

The top 500 Employers injury history

Just how important are

Non Work Related Injuries

Distribution of work and non-work related claims

Top 500 time off work claims- lodged between - 01 Jan 04 to 28 Aug 04

Fund EarnersEmployers/other insurer

Medical Misadventure

Motor Vehicle Residual Total

Total number of claims receiving weekly compensation 1112 466 1 142 6 1732Percentage distribution 64.2% 26.9% 0.1% 8.2% 0.3% 100.0%

The Delivery

ProfileProfile

Determine Need

Determine Need

Address Need

Address Need

Gain Feedback

Gain Feedback

EvaluateEvaluate

AdaptAdapt

CommunicateCommunicate

Trigger – Seek assistance & consult with

internal stakeholders

Trigger – Use appropriate resources to

provide solution

Intervention Trigger

One ACC Team

Practical Guidelines for Employers:

Employer Tips:• Delivery of key tips to build competence and confidence

for employers in return to work

How To How To ToolsTools

Supporting Supporting ToolsTools

TemplatesTemplates

Return to work toolbox options:There are approximately 70 return to work tools and templates that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of employers.

The tools cover the following areas:

• General information and guidelines for employers

• Workplace Assessment

• Job Analysis

• Return to work plans, actions, policies and procedures

• Return to work communication tools and letters

• Injury information and medical certificates

• Work environment and it management

Treatment Providers

• Data on Med Certificates

• Target poor employer/provider relationship

• Provide information and alternatives for RTW

• Measures and monitoring

Keys to Initiative Success(so far)

• Focused outcome to improve employment retention

• Maximise quick wins

• Targeted approach

• Walk in, needs based delivery

• A toolkit of resources is available (tips and tools)

• Clear method of measuring success

• “One ACC” team approach - consistency

Future Phases

• Absence management product

• Meeting return to work needs of small to medium sized employers and self employed

• Look for ways to provide return to work opportunities with other government agencies, industry and community groups.

ACC contact details:

• Tina Nation Project Manager, Return to Work Project/Business Manager,

Injury Prevention

• Nadine Geddes Rehabilitation Consultant

Kiwis Helping KiwisBuilding the Capability to ImproveReturn to Work Rates

-a practical view

Presented byRichard Geisler1 December 2004Name 28+ font