Problem
51-year-old Heavy Equipment Operator suffered a crush injury to their right middle finger resulting in amputation to the first joint. The employee injured his dominant hand, complicated by smoking.
Solution
The Field Case Manager (FCM) promptly facilitated an in-state transfer of care for amputation surgery, ensuring a seamless transition. Following the procedure, the FCM provided immediate education on the critical importance of proper wound care to prevent infection and support healing, as well as the need for adherence to a prescribed home exercise program just six days post-surgery. By maintaining a strong focus on therapy compliance and a meaningful return-to-work plan, the FCM helped achieve an early release to light duty, followed by a full-duty clearance.
Outcome
The injured employee successfully returned to full-duty work 14 weeks ahead of the ODG guidelines, resulting in significant cost savings. This early return to work led to indemnity savings of $10,061 and medical savings of $1,939, for a total estimated savings of $12,000. By returning 14 weeks early, the process saved 70 business days, highlighting the efficiency and impact of this outcome./span>
