ACOEMS 8 BEST IDEAS FOR WORKERS-COMPENSATION REFORM

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM ) is the pre-eminent organization of physicians who champion the healt h and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments. In keeping with this mission, the College strongly advocates that changes be made in the current workers' compensation system. Neither injured workers nor employers benefit when the quality and availability of medical care is uneven or when resources are wasted. ACOEM believes that taking advan tage of certain managed care techniques can improve the quality of bot h medical services and the flow Of health care information in workers' compensation. Specifically, ACOEM recommends eight changes to the wor kers' compensation system that will improve results by both optimizing recovery and reducing the risk of injury and illness. These eight sug gestions include recommendations to: (I) refocus safety programs; (2) link prevention with injury care; (3) use health professionals appropr iately; (4) actively involve employers and workers; (5) manage disabil ity sooner, (6) standardize the ratings process; (7) encourage innovat ion while protecting quality; and (8) collect new kinds of data to imp rove decision-making.