While most instances of absence are short term, some are the result of longer term
conditions, such as stress, and as such require a different management strategy.
Case Management is specifically designed for the recording and monitoring of longer
term conditions in a way that both limits the negative impact on the company and
eases the strain on the employee during this difficult period.
With Case Management it is easy to effectively and accurately plan reduced hours
and return to work strategies, ensuring the continued well-being of the employee.
Using real-time objective data, companies can also make critical decisions relating
to changes in the workplace or whether it would be cost-effective to pay for private
healthcare.
Cases can be readily escalated from Absence Management or created directly in Case
Management. A case manager is then assigned, ensuring clear continuity for the employee.
Across the course of the case, notes can be added at various key points, such as
when phone calls to the employee are made, therefore allowing their progress to
be easily tracked and reviewed. Case Management also allows you to easily import
and export files and images such as doctors’ notes, medical certificates and x-rays,
giving you a complete and coherent picture of the employee’s ongoing condition.
The nature of long term conditions means that the management process also takes
place over a long period of time. When dealing with large numbers of long term cases,
it can become difficult to keep track of the status of each individual employee’s
condition. With Case Management, automatic reminders and work lists for case managers
are set up to ensure tasks such as contacting an employee or chasing a GP report
are done on time. Reminders are fully configurable, allowing you to adjust them
as necessary to fit individual cases.
While some conditions may mean employees will be off work for long periods or have
reduced working hours, others may still be working their normal hours, such as an
employee who suffers from frequent lower back pain. In such an instance, Case Management
still plays a vital part as the condition can be recorded and monitored, allowing
the employer to complete a Workplace Assessment and thus make any necessary adjustments
to the employee’s working environment.