In this ongoing series, we’re highlighting the extraordinary impact Paradigm Complex Care Solutions case managers are having as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect lives. In our last piece, we highlighted the value of the connections our case managers build with injured workers and providers.  To ensure we continue to deliver positive outcomes throughout the pandemic, we’re focusing on four steps that align with our established strengths: creating meaningful connections, tackling return to work complexity, achieving results through vocational services, and delivering field case management on demand.

It almost can’t be overstated how difficult COVID-19 has made returning an injured worker to their job, whether the case involves a coronavirus infection or not. This is being compounded by the immense workplace changes and distributed workforce. The result is a perfect return-to-work storm for case managers, patients, their families, and employers.

Our case managers at Paradigm Complex Care Solutions are more than prepared for this tall task. Here are two stories of case managers encountering and overcoming new complexities in returning injured workers to the job.

Building bridges between patient and provider 
In a recent case, a Paradigm case manager was assigned to assist an injured worker with an extended recovery from a medial meniscus repair. Along with the normal rehab process, the patient also had ongoing complaints of chronic pain and degenerative changes that he said were exacerbated by the injury. Adding to an already complex scenario was the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic approximately a year after surgery. This occurred when a new attempt was about to be made for return to work.

In an environment where appointments and contact with providers are limited, the case manager worked tirelessly to build a bridge between patient and provider. This required educational outreach to both the worker and the provider to understand the current state and full status of the injury and claim. While coordinating remotely, this case manager was in touch with the provider immediately before and after the appointment. The end result was clearance for a return to full duty with maximum medical improvement despite the limitations to provider access.

A thorough response maximizes workplace safety
One of the most troublesome aspects of COVID-19 has been the difficulty in properly diagnosing cases. In some cases, people infected with coronavirus show little or no symptoms, while in other cases, patients can be highly symptomatic but turn out to have an entirely separate illness. Case managers helping patients get back to work for most of this year have had to walk this line of ensuring that workplaces and communities aren’t put at risk of exposure while ensuring that a symptomatic patient without the virus isn’t quarantined unnecessarily.

The answer to this is persistence and attention to detail to ensure that adequate testing is always performed. This is what happened in a case when an injured worker was preparing to return to his job after undergoing surgery and inpatient rehabilitation. However, immediately before returning to work, he became sick with a list of common COVID-19 symptoms.

Immediately upon receiving this information, the Paradigm case manager reached out to the injured worker’s primary care physician and ordered a COVID-19 test.

Thankfully the test was negative, but the patient still required treatment for an upper respiratory infection that the case manager took steps to facilitate. Upon recovery, this person was cleared for full return to work without delay. Due to swift action and diligence, the case manager was able to improve upon a constructive outcome.

Paradigm Complex Care Solutions is incredibly proud to tell these stories and thankful to have a team that is dedicated to positive outcomes and returning those we serve to their jobs and communities. We have many more outstanding stories from our stellar team, and we’ll be sure to continue to communicate those.

In the meantime, our team is ready and able to support the recovery of your injured workers. Call us today at 888-425-2747 or email us at complex@paradigmcorp.com to learn how we can help.