An early, planned and safe return to work after an injury is an important step in maintaining your employee’s health and wellbeing. Returning to work as soon as possible has been proven to benefit both the injured worker and the company where the injury occurred1,2. These benefits include assisting the injured worker’s mental wellbeing through support and comradeship as well as reduced insurance premiums for the employer.
To promote a successful return to work, assistance is required in the form of collaboration between the worker, the treating doctor, the injury management provider and the employer and their insurer. To achieve the best return to work outcome possible, it is important to ensure that injury management occurs rapidly with a view to develop a suitable duties plan.
Research shows that rapid assessment improves the overall outcome of the injury and is the first step in successful rehabilitation1. Based on this research KINNECT has developed an Acute Injury Management (AIM) hotline that is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that as soon as a workplace injury occurs, you are able access the right level of care and support through contacting our on-call allied health professionals. Through using an injury hotline, many employers find that their compensation claims are reduced significantly as many injuries can be appropriately managed without the need for submitting a claim.
It is important to note that KINNECT’s AIM hotline is equipped to provide triage suitable for most injuries. However, if the injury is deemed life-threatening, please call 000.
What happens once I call the AIM hotline?
Depending on the injury, the employee may be provided with first aid or self-management advice, allowing them to remain at work, or alternatively may be referred off-site to one of our designated medical or physiotherapy clinics for further treatment. In addition, we will also record the injury for immediate reporting to relevant company representatives via email and/or SMS. This report will cover the details of the injury and what acute medical management was provided.
Following the injured worker receiving appropriate medical treatment, we will manage the claims process for you if required. Should an employee wish to lodge a Worker’s Compensation Claim, KINNECT will assist with the process, completion of all relevant paperwork and also lodge the claim through your respective insurer.
KINNECT will also provide rehabilitation and return to work services that will support your company in the continued management of the injured worker. This support will include sourcing suitable duties, formulating return to work programs, ongoing return to work monitoring, treatment coordination and attendance at relevant medical appointments or reviews.
How does the AIM hotline assist in responding to workplace injury?
Responding to workplace injuries can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Through using a 24/7 AIM hotline, the following scenarios are able to be avoided:
- Employees who work alone or in small groups not being able to have access to immediate medical care
- Site supervisors responding incorrectly to workplace injury due to lack of training and medical knowledge
- Minor injuries referred off-site to a medical centre that is more expensive, time consuming and no more effective than physiotherapy or first aid advice
- Medical clinics providing advice when they are not familiar with the workplace environment and the employer’s ability to offer modified duties or return to work programs for the injured worker. Consequently, providing treatment that does not incorporate a return to work focus, making the length of the employee’s return to work longer
- Large organisations with multiple work sites working a variety of shifts that experience issues with responding to workplace injuries due to poor communication systems
Take the thinking and complexity out of your workplace injury response and just give KINNECT a call for comprehensive advice from beginning to end.
References
- Fenner, P. (2013). Returning to work after an injury, Australian Family Physician, 42(4), 182-185. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/april/returning-to-work/
- https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-return-to-work/rehabilitation-and-return-to-work/benefits-of-early-return-to-work
Ready to partner with KINNECT?
Request a Service
Know what you need from us? Request a service from us right now.
Locate us
Have a need in a particular location? View our service capabilities throughout Australia.
