Out Front Ideas: Employer Best Practice Panel

At the 2017 CWC and Risk conference, Out Front Ideas host Mark Walls lead a conversation with a panel of risk managers around best practices around a wide variety of topics. 

The panel of speakers include: 

· Tamara Ciraulo, Director Insurance Administration, Stater Bros.

· Monica M. Lichtenstein, AVP Strategic Claims Operations, Aramark

· Dawn Watkins, Director, Integrated Disability Management, Los Angeles Unified School District

· Mark Walls, Vice President Communications & Strategic Analysis, Safety National (moderator) 
What key performance indicators does your company measure?

-Starting to measure how often or when does a person get litigated

-tracking frequency and severity, need to be align with your organization, also measure closure rates(tail claims), measure disability days, 

– number of claims, amount paid, starting to look at years of service (mid term employees are having number of injuries and lead to believe they are taking shortcuts because they feel confident in their job)

-know your audience when you are talking about the key performance indicators, each department values key performance indicators differently. Makes sure these indicators are actionable. 

-look at disability days and how you can reduce those to get the worker back to work as soon as possible even if it is modified work duty
What are the biggest challenges in return to work programs?

-pre and post programs, program at grocery store created by bringing in physical therapist several times a week free of charge for the employees to ask questions, stretch, and even ice sore muscles. This program is beneficial to these hard working employees.

-challenge for food distributor is some clients want those employees to always be working at 100%. That is not an easy task to allow modified duty. Education for front line managers is important to help the return to work program work efficiently. Empowering your partners and other workers will get them back to work sooner.

-challenge is the physician. To get the employee back to work is the most important but sometimes the physician can sideline that employee even though the employee is fit for modified duty. Open communication with medical providers will allow your workers to come back to modified work sooner rather than later. 

-use job descriptions to meet with physicians this allows empowerment to the physician and nurse case managers. Meet with those high frequency clinics to make sure they are professional and treat your employees with care. 
How are you coordinating with your Loss Control/Prevention department?

-Redefine that relationship. It always helps to follow the money and see where departments are getting funded so you can collaborate with them. 

-Constant and open communication about certain cases and issues.

-Create a program with significant cases so all the key stakeholders were all involved and understand what exactly happened. Share all information available. 

-Look at locations with the highest frequency and see what issues can be resolved at those locations

-Safety never sleeps and important to be on the forefront of safety at all times

-Create a culture of safety so everyone can leave work the same way they arrived or even better