DMI’s Occupational Services are designed to provide proactive support to employers and employees facing a workplace injury or illness. Employers submit a notification to DMI as soon as they are aware an employee has been injured at work where the injury resulted in medical attention and/or missed time. Once DMI receives the claim, it is assigned to the employer’s designated Injury Management Specialist (IMS). The IMS works directly with the employer, employee, and other stakeholders, including the provincial Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB), to ensure a safe and sustainable return to work (RTW).

DMI’s Occupational Services include:

  • Ongoing communication with employers and employees
  • Proactive claims management to mitigate costs and expedite RTW
  • Ensuring claims meet the criteria of eligibility based on law and policy
  • Partnering with the Worker’s Compensation Boards to ensure a positive outcome
  • Pursuit of Cost Relief on all eligible claims
  • Assistance navigating the Worker’s Compensation Boards’ processes and policies
  • Developing and monitoring return to work programs
  • Representation in WCB/WSIB appeals at all levels
  • Annual reporting to monitor trends and experience rating performance

Preventing workplace injuries is the most effective way to protect workers and control an employer’s workers compensation costs. However, when injuries do occur, an effective return to work program is the best way to minimize the impact of an injury, promote recovery, and manage associated costs. Supporting people in their recovery at work is good for them and good for your business. Having employees perform some duties while they recover keeps them connected with you and can prevent long-lasting disability. Helping employees back to work sooner supports employers to retain their valued employees, employees experience an improved quality of life, and the indirect costs of a disability are reduced. Therefore, Occupational Services can not only relieve stress for employers and employees, but it can help reduce operating and premium costs for employers.

The Employers’ Role in Occupational Services:

  1. Ensure that participation in the injury reporting process is included as a critical component of your internal policies.
  2. Notify DMI as soon as you know an employee has sought medical assistance for an injury or missed time from work.
    • Employers are required to report workplace injuries or disease within 72 hours of receiving notification of the injury
  3. Make sure your leadership team is informed and aware of WCB’s reporting requirements.
  4. Explore opportunities for modified duties to support more effective return to work programs.
  5. Continue to communicate with your employees on WCB leave – even if you are working with an external disability management provider it is important to keep employees connected to the workplace and let them know you care.You are a trusted resource for your employees.

Talk to an expert today!

DMI is committed to providing timely support and information to our clients. We have been working with employees and employers nationwide to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions for their absence and disability management needs.

Interested in learning more about our Occupational Services and how disability management services can help control disability claim costs? Request a free review of your claims experience from a DMI expert to determine if you will benefit from DMI’s claims management services.