Abstract
Purpose To determine whether healthcare use and return-to-work (RTW) outcomes differ with GPs’ injured-worker caseload. Methods Retrospective analyses of the Compensation Research Database, which captures approximately 85% of all injured worker claims in Victoria, Australia was conducted. Four injured-worker caseload groups were examined that represented the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of claimants seen per GP over the 8-year study period (2003–2010): (i) 1–13 claimants; (ii) 14–26 claimants; (iii) 27–48 claimants; and (iv) 49+ claimants (total claims, n = 124,342; total GPs, n = 9748).The characteristics of claimants in each caseload group, as well as the influence of caseload on three outcomes relevant to RTW (weekly compensation paid, work incapacity days, medical-and-like costs), were examined. Results Distinct profiles for high versus low caseload groups emerged. High caseload GPs treated significantly more men in blue collar occupations and issued significantly more ‘alternate duties’ certificates. Conversely, low caseload GPs treated significantly more women in white collar occupations, predominantly for mental health injuries, and issued significantly more ‘unfit-for-work’ certificates. Few significant differences were found between the two intermediate GP caseload groups. High caseload was associated with significantly greater medical-and-like costs, however, no caseload group differences were detected for weekly compensation paid or duration of time-off-work. Conclusions Training GPs who have a low injured-worker caseload in workers’ compensation processes, utilising high caseload GPs in initiatives involving peer-to-peer support, or system changes where employers are encouraged to provide preventive or rehabilitative support in the workplace may improve RTW outcomes for injured workers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 64-71 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- General practice
- Return to work
- Workers’ compensation
Cite this
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Do Health Service Use and Return-to-Work Outcomes Differ with GPs’ Injured-Worker Caseload? / Mazza, Danielle; Brijnath, Bianca; O’Hare, Mary Alice; Ruseckaite, Rasa; Kosny, Agnieszka; Collie, Alex.
In: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, Vol. 29, No. 1, 15.03.2019, p. 64-71.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Do Health Service Use and Return-to-Work Outcomes Differ with GPs’ Injured-Worker Caseload?
AU - Mazza, Danielle
AU - Brijnath, Bianca
AU - O’Hare, Mary Alice
AU - Ruseckaite, Rasa
AU - Kosny, Agnieszka
AU - Collie, Alex
PY - 2019/3/15
Y1 - 2019/3/15
N2 - Purpose To determine whether healthcare use and return-to-work (RTW) outcomes differ with GPs’ injured-worker caseload. Methods Retrospective analyses of the Compensation Research Database, which captures approximately 85% of all injured worker claims in Victoria, Australia was conducted. Four injured-worker caseload groups were examined that represented the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of claimants seen per GP over the 8-year study period (2003–2010): (i) 1–13 claimants; (ii) 14–26 claimants; (iii) 27–48 claimants; and (iv) 49+ claimants (total claims, n = 124,342; total GPs, n = 9748).The characteristics of claimants in each caseload group, as well as the influence of caseload on three outcomes relevant to RTW (weekly compensation paid, work incapacity days, medical-and-like costs), were examined. Results Distinct profiles for high versus low caseload groups emerged. High caseload GPs treated significantly more men in blue collar occupations and issued significantly more ‘alternate duties’ certificates. Conversely, low caseload GPs treated significantly more women in white collar occupations, predominantly for mental health injuries, and issued significantly more ‘unfit-for-work’ certificates. Few significant differences were found between the two intermediate GP caseload groups. High caseload was associated with significantly greater medical-and-like costs, however, no caseload group differences were detected for weekly compensation paid or duration of time-off-work. Conclusions Training GPs who have a low injured-worker caseload in workers’ compensation processes, utilising high caseload GPs in initiatives involving peer-to-peer support, or system changes where employers are encouraged to provide preventive or rehabilitative support in the workplace may improve RTW outcomes for injured workers.
AB - Purpose To determine whether healthcare use and return-to-work (RTW) outcomes differ with GPs’ injured-worker caseload. Methods Retrospective analyses of the Compensation Research Database, which captures approximately 85% of all injured worker claims in Victoria, Australia was conducted. Four injured-worker caseload groups were examined that represented the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of claimants seen per GP over the 8-year study period (2003–2010): (i) 1–13 claimants; (ii) 14–26 claimants; (iii) 27–48 claimants; and (iv) 49+ claimants (total claims, n = 124,342; total GPs, n = 9748).The characteristics of claimants in each caseload group, as well as the influence of caseload on three outcomes relevant to RTW (weekly compensation paid, work incapacity days, medical-and-like costs), were examined. Results Distinct profiles for high versus low caseload groups emerged. High caseload GPs treated significantly more men in blue collar occupations and issued significantly more ‘alternate duties’ certificates. Conversely, low caseload GPs treated significantly more women in white collar occupations, predominantly for mental health injuries, and issued significantly more ‘unfit-for-work’ certificates. Few significant differences were found between the two intermediate GP caseload groups. High caseload was associated with significantly greater medical-and-like costs, however, no caseload group differences were detected for weekly compensation paid or duration of time-off-work. Conclusions Training GPs who have a low injured-worker caseload in workers’ compensation processes, utilising high caseload GPs in initiatives involving peer-to-peer support, or system changes where employers are encouraged to provide preventive or rehabilitative support in the workplace may improve RTW outcomes for injured workers.
KW - General practice
KW - Return to work
KW - Workers’ compensation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062585937&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10926-018-9765-y
DO - 10.1007/s10926-018-9765-y
M3 - Article
VL - 29
SP - 64
EP - 71
JO - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
SN - 1053-0487
IS - 1
ER -