A Worker Health Problem:Why New, Effective Solutions Are Needed

to Enhance Workers’ Comfort & Performance

2

Types of TraumaNot All Trauma is Created Equal

Reactive vs. Proactive

Impact on Health Care Costs

Spending on spine problems rose 82% in less than a decade from $19.4B in 1997 to $35.1B in 2006. Costs include hospitalization, prescription medication, & ER visits (Source: Spine, 2009; 34:2077-84)

52% increase in metro areas & 371% surge in rural regions in rate of unintentional drug overdose deaths related to prescription opioids from 1999-2004.

Now an estimated 22.3M people (7% of population) with diagnosed diabetes. A company of 300 employees will spend $810,000 annually in insurance costs for employees with diabetes & pre-diabetes (Kaiser Family Foundation data)

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3

Types of TraumaNot All Trauma is Created Equal

Reactive vs. Proactive

Impact on Health Care Costs

Medical necessity of diagnostic imaging. 43% of specialists use imaging in clinically unnecessary circumstances (Suddert et al, JAMA 2005;293(21):2609-2617)

Impact of the knowledge of MRI results = chronicity, 2-3 fold increase in lumbar fusions (Flynn et al, JOSPT 2011;41(11):838-46)

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4

Types of TraumaNot All Trauma is Created Equal

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5

Types of TraumaNot All Trauma is Created Equal

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Co

st

Fatigue Discomfort Pain Injury

Work related

factors

Non-work

related factors

Types of TraumaThe Bucket Analogy

Types of TraumaThe Bucket Analogy

• Slow the drip = Ergonomics

• Get a bigger bucket = BioErgonomics

• Open the valve = Postural Relief

8

True Cost of WMSDsThe Exponential Impact of Injuries

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Like an iceberg, 80% of work injury costs are hidden indirect expenses.

Indirect Costs

Direct Costs

Medical Costs -1/3

Wage Benefit -2/3

Replacement

Training

Repair

Production

Quality

Insurance

Legal (4.6x Med)

$40.1 B*

$200+ B*

*Source: Liberty Mutual – 1999 Data

9

True Cost of WMSDsThe Exponential Impact of Injuries

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Direct Cost + Indirect Cost (2x) = Total Cost

$38,000* + $76,000 = $114,000

Now, let’s consider a 10% profit margin (PM)

Revenue Required to Offset the Loss = Total Cost / (PM% / 100)

$114,000 / (10/100) = $1.14M

With a factor of 5x, revenue required increases to $2.28M

* Average work related injury direct cost according to NSC

ABCs of WIMPThe Traditional Approach

ABCs of WIMPThe Traditional Approach: Reactive Model

ABCs of WIMPThe Better Approach: Proactive Model

SYMPTOM THRESHOLD

TIME

TIS

SU

E D

AM

AG

E 1. Injury avoidance

2. Expanded tolerance

3. Prescriptive recovery

ABCs of WIMPThe Better Approach: Proactive Model

A = Administrative Controls

B = Behaviors/Techniques

C = Capacity

D = Demands

A

DC

B

BioErgonomics

Training

Ergonomics

Policies

ABCs of WIMPIdentifying & Mitigating Risk

Early lntervention

FJDs

Job Matching

FCEs

A

B

BioErgonomics

Training

Ergonomics

Policies

A = Administrative Controls

B = Behaviors/Techniques

C = Capacity

D = Demands

C D

ABCs of WIMPIdentifying & Mitigating Risk

Next Session

I’ll discuss…

FIRST AID vs. MEDICAL CARE – how to determine

the difference and why it’s important in workers’

compenation

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