Improving the quality of workers compensation health care delivery: The Washington state occupational health services project

Researchers and health policy analysts in Washington State set out to deter mine the extent to which administrative process changes and delivery system interventions within workers' compensation affect quality and health outco mes for injured workers. This research included a pilot project to study th e effects of providing occupationally focused health care through managed c are arrangements on health outcomes, worker and employer satisfaction, and medical and disability costs. Based on the results, a new initiative was de veloped to incorporate several key delivery system components. The Washingt on State experience in developing a quality improvement initiative may have relevance for health care clinicians, administrators, policymakers, and re searchers engaged in similar pursuits within the general medical care arena .