Catastrophic injuries are the most challenging category of cases in workers’ compensation care. The average cost for catastrophic claims is typically in the millions of dollars, but more importantly, these catastrophic injuries have a life-altering impact on affected workers and their families. They also result in extremely focused care management needs, and in many cases, the course of treatment will vary across industries.

Throughout our 30 years of helping catastrophically injured workers achieve positive outcomes, Paradigm has carefully developed industry-specific solutions for the sectors we commonly serve. Specifically, injuries from the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries, together represent a majority of the catastrophic cases we handle. Because of this, Paradigm has developed a deep understanding of the risks and obstacles to recovery—both physical and behavioral—that these injured workers face.

This unparalleled experience and focus is what has helped Paradigm develop effective responses in the following critical industries.

Building better outcomes for catastrophic construction injuries
Approximately 25% of all catastrophic Paradigm cases are from job-site laborers, skilled trades, and infrastructure operations. Construction-related injuries very often occur due to falls from heights, which result in multiple traumas, including orthopedic and organ trauma, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.

Paradigm’s clinical and behavioral expertise around these injuries, combined with decades of construction case data, has enabled us to create evidenced-based clinical and claims solutions, including:

• Pre-vocational services to establish early return-to-work (RTW) goals
• Enhanced risk screening for pre-existing or post-injury substance abuse
• Healthy habit programs, such as support for smoking cessation as part of a larger biopsychosocial and behavioral care model
• Bilingual staff and translation services to assure seamless patient/family communication
• Robust vocational assessment/rehabilitation to facilitate transitional work assignments, job skill development, and transferable skills identification

In one case study, the Paradigm Management Team was able to return a construction worker with multiple catastrophic trauma, including complex pelvic fractures, back to his home and community with zero prescription narcotics utilization and minimal residual treatment needs.

Transportation-related injuries can occur anywhere; we know how to respond
Within the transportation sector, the most common catastrophic injuries are motor vehicle accidents, falls from the cab or trailer, and material-handling injuries. In total, motor vehicle accidents represent about 20% of catastrophic cases for Paradigm. Our specialization in multiple trauma, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, organ damage, and burns gives us substantial expertise to help seriously injured transportation workers strive for their best possible outcome.

We return workers to the driver’s seat and provide guaranteed outcomes for our transportation clients with the following specialized solutions:

• Medical transport to an optimal facility, as injuries often occur away from home
• Guidance on sleep hygiene, nutrition, and healthy living
• A comprehensive biopsychosocial model that addresses obstacles that often interfere with recovery
• Education around body mechanics to combat issues related to prolonged sitting
• Systems for vehicle modifications that allow for RTW
• Coordination of Department of Transportation and commercial driver’s license recertification
• A full portfolio of vocational rehabilitation services to facilitate recovery and RTW

Learn more about Bill Griffin, a catastrophically injured transportation worker who got back behind the wheel after a truck-to-truck collision.

How we meet the specialized needs of catastrophic manufacturing injuries
Manufacturing jobs have an elevated risk for catastrophic workplace injury, with an estimated 12% of our catastrophic claims coming from this sector. Common injury types, including caught-between and crushing injuries, result in amputations, orthopedic injuries, and organ damage.

Paradigm understands the factors that lead to manufacturing injuries, and the recovery and RTW challenges that set them apart. These include an aging workforce, increased automation, and difficult-to-replace technical skills. Our custom-tailored response to manufacturing injuries is built on these pillars:

• Specialized protocols for orthopedic, wound, and infection management
• State-of-the-art prosthetics programs in limb loss cases
• In-depth ergonomic training and support
• Behavioral intervention for PTSD and other obstacles that often interfere with recovery and RTW
• Work hardening, job modification, and adaptive equipment that allow for RTW
• Robust vocational assessment and rehabilitation to facilitate transitional work assignments, job skills development, and transferable skills identification

In one successful manufacturing outcome, the Paradigm team coordinated the lengthy recovery of Ryan Hollett, a worker who lost his arm after it was crushed on the job. After multiple procedures and extensive therapy, Ryan has experienced an exceptional recovery. He is working full-time as a sales rep for an American food service distributor. He is in a relationship and is enjoying an active lifestyle that includes participating in yoga five times a week.

Connect with us to learn more about Paradigm’s Catastrophic & Risk Solutions that deliver guaranteed outcomes and financial security for the most serious injuries.