Today’s injured workers have more than just recovery to think about. Current industry trends in healthcare could have a serious impact on the treatment and outcomes of workers’ compensation cases. You need to consider how these three developments could affect claims management.

1. Aging Population

 It is estimated that by the year 2056, people 65-and-older will outnumber the 18-and-under population. An older population means an increase in the need for healthcare services and higher demand for scarce resources. Employers should consider how an aging workforce will influence labor and healthcare costs.

2. Medical Marijuana

A hot topic in the news these days, the expanding legalization of medical and recreational marijuana raises complex challenges for those in the workers’ compensation industry. For instance, workers under the influence of medical marijuana may cause unintended complications in the workplace. Employers may then have to alter their approach to using drug test results for a workers’ compensation case in which an injured worker uses a legal drug. 

3. Wearable Technology 

With an aging population come the technological advances that help them thrive and stay healthy. The latest product developments suggest that these devices, currently used mostly for fitness, will eventually be used by the medical community to monitor and possibly treat those with chronic health problems.

These latest trends are important indicators of where the healthcare and workers’ compensation industries are heading. Workers, employers and carriers alike will benefit from staying informed and reflecting on future applications. Stay up to date by visiting the Paradigm Outcomes website and joining the online community on Facebook and Twitter.