Paul Marsh presenting the P2 Group ‘People Performance Award’, 2010, to Robert Gobaira, Senior Manager Production, Joy Adcock, Management Systems Manager and Danielle Pasa, Human Resources Adviser from Continental.

Employers should be aware they can request their workers to participate in assessments of their capacity and the workers are legally obligated to participate as part of their return to work plans.

All P2 Group clients arrange assessments of capacity as the first step in assisting their workers to return to work. This is critical to employers controlling the return to work process, the results of which feed into P2 Group’s unique strategic case management process and assist our clients to achieve the following results:

•    Gaining control of all WorkCover cases.
How? The employers request the services of P2 Group Occupational Therapists to meet with their workers and conduct functional capacity evaluations. The P2 Group Occupational Therapists will have prior knowledge of the employers’ worksites and their operational requirements, which are incorporated with the workers’ needs to reach positive outcomes that are good for the employers and the workers.

•    Reducing claims costs and achieving significant savings in WorkCover premiums.
How? The employers engage P2 Group directly and pay for P2 Group Occupational Therapists services. These costs do not increase WorkCover claims costs.

•    Moving fast.
How? The employers and the workers do not lose time waiting for approvals from their WorkCover insurance agents. The employers move fast and stay in control from the start. Most WorkCover claims can be lodged as minor claims which do not impact WorkCover premiums.

•    Reducing WorkCover claims and improving workplace culture.
How? Over time as employers continue to assess workers with injuries and early signs of conditions, the line of communication opens between managers and workers and generates a positive workforce culture. As workers learn that they will be looked after, they inform their managers of aches and pains instead of automatically lodging WorkCover claims.

In addition, as of 1 July 2010 employers will have increased return to work obligations. Peter Hanks QC who recently undertook a review of the Victorian Accident Compensation Act has stipulated that employers need to plan workers’ return to work from when they first become aware of their injuries, irrespective of whether a WorkCover claim has been lodged. Employers are able to fulfil their obligations by using P2 Group Occupational Therapists to assess their workers, which will enable employers to plan their workers’ return to work.

To achieve the benefits listed above, employers need to be able to interpret the assessment findings and incorporate them into Return to Work Plans. This provides a clear path forward for the workers and the Treating Practitioners and facilities a positive outcome. Employers remain in control and savings from reduced WorkCover premiums can be used to meet operational requirements and OH&S initiatives to improve staff welfare.

Click here to contact a P2 Group consultant to discuss employers arranging their own assessments of capacity and experience the difference.

Carla Dellwo
P2 Group Occupational Therapist

How? By reducing the most important factor driving your WorkCover premium – claims costs, more specifically the Statistical Case Estimate (SCE) attributed to each WorkCover claim. Claims costs consist of the actual amount spent on a claim + the SCE associated to each claim. The SCE can be reduced through strategic claims management provided by industry experts at P2 Group.

WorkSafe Victoria introduced the SCE model in 2004 to level out the playing field across all WorkCover Agents. Instead of a human case manager setting the estimate costs on individual claims, WorkSafe Victoria introduced a computer algorithm to recalculate all estimate costs on the fifth day of every month. During July a final calculation will be performed and a snapshot of the actual costs + estimate costs is entered into the premium renewal calculation with a final bill issued at the end of August.

Claims costs consist of a number of different attributes such as medical and like expenses, legal expenses, occupational rehabilitation expenses etc. but the attribute which has the most profound affect on claims costs is weekly compensation. By taking control internally of your injury management procedures and having your managers implement sustainable return to work plans for their injured workers, your claims costs will reduce.

P2 Group works with an organisation’s executive team to implement a self insurance approach to tackling their injury management and the associated claims costs.

Our clients save an average 50% on their WorkCover premiums in the first 1-2 years working with P2 Group adding directly to their bottom line. We put you in control of your WorkCover, to save you money and time. Click here to contact a P2 Group consultant to arrange an independent evaluation of your WorkCover premium.

If you forecast an increase greater than 20% in your remuneration for the 2009/10 year, compared to the remuneration you estimated at the beginning of the financial year, you must provide your WorkCover Agent with a revised estimate in writing immediately. If you fail to do so, you may be penalised up to 100% of the premium difference.

Consider if there have been any unplanned activities this financial year that could result in an increase in remuneration, for example business acquisitions, increases in staff numbers due to a growing industry or increases in superannuation payments.

Click here to be directed to WorkSafe Victoria for more information regarding rateable remuneration.

It is also good practice to advise your WorkCover Agent if your actual remuneration during the policy period will be significantly less than the remuneration you estimated at the beginning of the financial year. Your future premium installments can then be adjusted in line with the reduced remuneration.

Please do not hesitate to contact James Kydas or Paul Marsh at P2 Group (03) 9818 8914 if you have any queries or require assistance with this matter.

BRW says this ‘unique event format fosters the development of important corporate values such as team work, company pride and camaraderie, whilst simultaneously promoting the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle‘. The team at P2 Group are proud to promote this philosophy.

P2 Group Triathlon Team – Paul Marsh, Claire Barrett and Fraser Moore.

How? By reducing the most important factor driving your WorkCover premium – claims costs, more specifically the Statistical Case Estimate (SCE) attributed to each WorkCover claim.  Claims costs consist of the actual amount spent on a claim + the SCE associated to each claim. The SCE can be reduced through strategic claims management provided by industry experts at P2 Group.

WorkSafe Victoria introduced the SCE model in 2004 to level out the playing field across all WorkCover Agents. Instead of a human case manager setting the estimate costs on individual claims, WorkSafe Victoria introduced a computer algorithm to calculate all estimate costs on the fifth day of every month. During July a final calculation is performed and a snapshot of the actual costs + estimate costs is entered into the premium renewal calculation. Therefore leaving only 5 more opportunities this financial year to resolve open and active WorkCover claims and reduce the SCEs associated to each claim.

Claims costs consist of a number of different attributes such as medical and like expenses, legal expenses, occupational rehabilitation expenses etc. but the attribute which has the most profound affect on claims costs is weekly compensation.  By taking control internally of your injury management procedures and having your managers implement sustainable return to work plans for their injured workers, your claims costs will reduce.

Time is fast running out so ask yourself, what is the cost of waiting?

Click here to contact P2 Group for independent expert advice. P2 Group can review your claims costs to determine what your achievable savings are for the current and next financial years, if you implement the P2 Group strategic injury management process. P2 Group can establish a budget with the CFO to take control of WorkCover costs. What you can measure you can manage.

Upon returning to the P2 Group office, I decided to calculate P2 Group’s strike rate in contacting treating practitioners after performing a Functional Capacity Evaluation with a worker. A Functional Capacity Evaluation is an assessment conducted by a P2 Group Occupational Therapist, to determine a worker’s physical and mental health capacity to participate in an offer of suitable employment. Even though a significant number of the workers’ compensation claims we manage are complex long term claims from new clients our strike rate in contacting a worker’s treating practitioner after a Functional Capacity Evaluation is a pleasing 92%.

P2 Group has found the vast majority of treating practitioners will discuss a worker’s assessment results and actively engage with and support a P2 Group Occupational Therapist’s recommendations to facilitate a supportive return to work based upon the results of a Functional Capacity Evaluation.

If you are experiencing difficulty in speaking to the treating practitioners of your workers, contact a P2 Group Occupational Therapist today. It’s simple and provides you with greater input and control of your workers’ compensation claims. Our results speak for themselves.

Fraser Moore

P2 Group Occupational Therapist

Reduce your WorkCover Premium before it’s too late. Organisations only have five more opportunities to reduce their WorkCover premium before the 2010/2011 renewal is calculated. WorkCover is typically the second largest labour cost for organisations and needs strategic management at the Executive level.
More Information

Work Life Continuance Program – An Ageing Workforce Solution.
The P2 Group Work Life Continuance Program provides employers with a tangible solution to the reality of an ageing workforce. The Program addresses the Silver Tsunami¹ that is fast approaching all employers and the need for a Human Maintenance Schedule. More Information

Contacting Treating Practitioners – 92% Success Rate.
Upon returning to the P2 Group office, I decided to calculate P2 Group’s strike rate in contacting treating practitioners after performing a Functional Capacity Evaluation with a worker. Keeping in mind that P2 Group pride themselves on resolving long term cases, our strike rate in contacting a worker’s treating practitioner after a Functional Capacity Evaluation was a pleasing 92%. More Information

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on the type of information and topics you would like to see covered in future editions.

Website Launch
P2 Group is proud to announce the launch of its new website. You can visit us at www.p2group.com.au

People Performance Awards
Congratulations to Select-O-Pedic Bedding, winners of P2 Group’s People Performance Award, 2009. Select-O-Pedic Bedding join previous winners, Liberty Financial 2008, CMG Group 2007. More Information.

Ageing Workforce
P2 Group has developed a holistic approach for employers wanting to take control of workforce management. This also provides employers with the tools to manage the reality of an ageing workforce. More information.

The Importance of Documenting Inherent Requirments
P2 Group Occupational Therapists work in collaboration with managers to assess the Inherent Requirements of each role within an organisation. It is important to clearly define and document the Inherent Requirements (functional and cognitive / behavioural) of each role. Once this is in place, an employees’ ability to meet the demands of the role can be assessed. More Information.

Self Managed Exercise Programs
Self Managed Exercise Programs are activity based interventions designed to improve a worker’s ability to carry out their everyday activities. Self Managed Exercise Programs aid all “at – risk” empoyees – those that are recently injured, have re-occuring conditions, have early warning signs and those that are ageing. More Information.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on the type of information and topics you would like to see covered in future editions.

P2 Group have released their latest brochure, offering a full range of services to assist you in preventing and managing WorkCover claims.

By implementing P2 Group’s Prevention Management and Injury Management, our services are proven to reduce WorkCover premiums by 50% in the first 1-2 years.

Can your organisation afford to wait? It’s time to take internal control.

To request a brochure, please click here or alternatively contact P2 Group today.

P2 Group … Solving Today’s Problems with Tomorrow’s Thinking.