Disability Claims Management
Many smaller companies are
blindsided by disability claims. Don't let your organization be one of them!
Take steps to deal with disability policy and case management by partnering
with a medical assessment company before an incident occurs. By implementing a
comprehensive
disability claims management policy, you
will help to maximize the health of your workplace and return employees to work
in a timely fashion.
First Steps
Given that laws and available services vary from province to province, it's best to find a reputable
national company. If your business is outside Canada's major urban centres, don't
worry – there are firms that pride themselves on providing services to more
remote locations.
Ask your medical assessment partner
to provide you with a disabilities management checklist. This will help you
identify the steps you need to take to ensure that your disability practices
both comply with the law and benefit your company and its employees. Some of
the first steps should include:
- Ensuring your employees know about your policies -- and their
legal rights. This may include making sure
that all staff, unions, management, and external service providers are supplied
with brochures outlining the company policy and values surrounding disability
issues, that information is available on internal company internet sites, that
policies are posted on bulletin boards, and that new employees receive written
information on the subject.
- Ensuring that managers and supervisors are thoroughly trained in
their responsibilities regarding disability issues. This will include training about the responsibility provide accommodations
and other legislation, instruction about forms dealing with functional ability,
physical demands analysis and other paperwork, and training that helps to
fine-tune communications skills necessary when dealing with absent workers.
IMEs and Other Services
Injuries and illnesses will
occur, so once a disability claim is filed, your medical assessment partner can help you to implement steps that will facilitate a speedy return to
work whenever possible. This process usually necessitates IMEs, or
Independent Medical
Evaluations. Your medical assessment
partner will provide professionals in various areas to conduct examinations of
individuals who claim disability benefits. These can include surgeons,
psychiatrists and psychologists, physiotherapists, dentists, chiropractors, and
more. The goal of these specialists is to find a way for your employee to
return to work. Tools used to aid in this goal can include recommendations for
other therapies for the employee, as well as recommendations for accommodations
to be made by the employer.
Your medical assessment partner
may assign a case manager to the claim, who will facilitate communication and
coordinate a return to work plan that is acceptable to both sides.
Having a clear disability
claims management strategy benefits your company and your employees. Partner
with a medical assessment company today.