{"id":2842,"date":"2022-02-14T12:29:46","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T17:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medlogix.com\/?p=2842"},"modified":"2022-02-14T12:48:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T17:48:38","slug":"telephonic-case-management-transforms-care-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medlogix.com\/telephonic-case-management-transforms-care-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Telephonic case management transforms care during the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Helping injured employees return to work safely and appropriately takes a network of experienced professionals and protocols that allow for nuanced care. Unfortunately, the pandemic has complicated these protocols for each person invested in workers’ rehabilitation<\/a>. For Medlogix, telephonic case management has been an ideal solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our goal is to minimize lost time,” said Cindy Pirozzi, Senior Vice President of Managed Care at Medlogix. “We want to see that an injured employee gets the prompt, ongoing, and quality assessment and treatment they need to get back to work.”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Major Players<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team of professionals that will take the employee from injury through return-to-work needs to work seamlessly together to assess and adjust procedures and care each step of the way. The significant roles are employee, employer, care provider, adjuster, and the nurse case manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The injured party, or the employee, is the patient who suffered injury or illness on the job. The injured worker’s employer has goals to support their employee in their treatment plan to return to work. The care provider team comprises medical professionals who actively assess and document patient needs and progress throughout diagnosis, recovery, and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An adjuster\u2019s role is to make compensability determinations, set reserves and handle the financial payment aspects of the claim. Finally, the nurse case manager assists the injured worker by directing and guiding them through the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Added Strain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the roles above has experienced the ongoing pandemic differently, but all have been impacted. Labor shortages put insurmountable pressure on injured workers to recover quickly. The constant ebb-and-flow of positive COVID-19 cases means every employer is juggling employee health and safety along with the demands of their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is no secret that care providers are also burdened beyond capacity, as the coronavirus demands such a high proportion of time and emotional energy<\/a>. These stressors can make it challenging to connect and communicate with patients. Adjusters and nurses, in particular, are facing unprecedented stress. Though they can often work remotely, they are experiencing an exceptional caseload volume while also striving to give each case the attention it deserves. In addition, scheduling in-person provider visits and diagnostics in a timely manner has become immensely challenging during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the Case<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nurse case manager<\/a> has two prominent roles: <\/p>\n\n\n\n