Systematic Care Management^SM is the key to helping injured workers achieve lasting success in managing pain. Just changing or eliminating an ineffective drug often leads to a new prescription and may not stabilize the injured worker or the claim.  Paradigm Outcomes’ solution adjusts a patient’s care regimen as part of the big picture, and acknowledges the importance of environmental and social variables in getting chronic pain under control.

The “Cycle of Pain”

Workers’ compensation chronic pain cases tend to involve a number of predictable components. A simple or unremarkable injury is compounded when a patient connects with a physician who does not recognize and manage the psychosocial factors that perpetuate chronic pain. Alternatively, a patient goes from doctor to doctor for service without receiving comprehensive care. The injury can drag out with interventional procedures that may show little or no benefit, escalation of pharmacy costs as prescriptions mount, declining functional status, and even repeat emergency room visits.

When inappropriate diagnoses, or misdiagnoses, lead to inappropriate interventions, the cycle of pain can continue. Narcotics prescribed over the long term, multiple prescriptions, multiple prescribers, decreasing functionality and problem behavior are all red flags that a pain situation has gotten out of control.

Paradigm Outcomes Knows Pain

These problematic, complex cases are what Paradigm Outcomes manages best. Paradigm’s comprehensive approach to chronic pain can result in a real 41% reduction in lifetime costs compared to conventional case management. For emerging pain cases, less than one year after injury, Paradigm achieves a 69% release to return to work and a 62% decrease in morphine equivalents.

Systematic Care Management^SM

Complex pain is a whole-person problem that requires a holistic, biopsychosocial solution. Paradigm’s advanced analytics to identify and assess high risk cases, combined with our team management and physician consultative services (PCS) all contribute to injured workers making real improvement over manageable time spans.

To learn more about the Paradigm Outcomes’ suite of comprehensive pain solutions, visit our website or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.