the bigger they are, the harder they fall

A scientific study supports what claims adjusters and case managers have known for years – obese workers incur more workers comp claims and cost way more and are much harder to get back to work than their skinnier colleagues.
Three audits I’ve conducted over the last six months confirm the stats with anecdotal evidence.

I recently spent three days cooped up in a windowless office looking at workers comp claim files (and I wonder why my kids don’t want to take over my practice…) with Pat Gahl, one of the most experienced and smartest case management pros in the business. During one of our infrequent breaks, Pat noted that she could usually predict the outcome of a case just by looking at nurse notes on the claimant’s height and weight.
We reviewed dozens of cases, and sure enough, the claimants that were significantly overweight always were tough to get back to work.
Why? Certainly orthopedic conditions take longer to heal if the muscles, connective tissues, and bones have to support too much weight. And, the cumulative effect on that connective tissues of years of obesity is likely harmful – damaging knees, backs, hips, and feet. Add to the mix the high probability that the obese individual is significantly de-conditioned (out of shape) and you have a recipe for a long, expensive, and perhaps ultimately unsuccesful rehab.
What does this mean for yuo?
Case managers and employers should factor weight into their return to work planning. Perhaps guideline developers should as well.