WCB Occupational Injury Services

The Occupational Injury Service ("OIS") is a special program offered by a medical clinic such as Wellpoint, which has been granted OIS status by the Workers Compensation Board ("WCB").

The OIS is intended to provide timely and appropriate medical care & disability management services specifically for occupational injuries, with special emphasis on immediate (i.e. same day) communication with the employer to facilitate safe return to work.

OIS avoids:

• Delayed communication
• Delayed medical interventions
• Delayed rehabilitation
• Workers unnecessarily being off work

OIS should reduce conflicting medical opinion on the claim and participation in OIS gives employers control.

Employers Benefits:

• Ability to manage claims with work readiness information available on the day of first clinic visit
• Increase in return to work on the day of the injury with modified work duties
• Earlier safe and sustainable return to work
• Reduced compensation costs
• Satisfaction with the program (Injured workers, Unions, Employers, WCB Case Managers)

Wellpoint's Commitment to OIS:

• Knowledge of disability management & Occupational Medicine
• Occupational Health Physicians on staff
• Physician available to be contacted by the employer in order to work together to achieve little or no loss time in the workplace
• Knowledge of WCB processes
• Knowledge of work site through frequent communication or employer site visits
• Direct referrals to WCB's authorized provider network (including MRI and CT)

OIS Outcomes:
March 2004 - OIS employers
Days of lost time for cases with modified work arranged on the date of accident:

• OIS: < 1 day of time loss
• Non-OIS: 48 days of time loss (median: 4 days)

For more information and/or to sign up for OIS, call (403) 236-8400 or e-mail info@wellpoint.ca