When a severe workplace injury occurs, the first priority is making sure the injured worker receives the care they need. At the same time, employers are faced with important decisions at a moment that can feel overwhelming.
Prescient National created the Severe Injury Protocol to help employers navigate those critical first hours. The protocol provides step-by-step guidance for responding to a serious injury, from supporting the injured worker and their family to promptly reporting the claim and preserving important information that may be needed as the claim develops. The purpose is not to predetermine the outcome of a claim. It is to make sure employers and our Claims Specialists have the information they need to understand what happened and make informed decisions.
The Partnership Starts Before an Injury
Our Severe Injury Protocol is most effective when employers are prepared before an accident ever occurs. That is where Prescient National’s Risk Managers play an important role. They take time to get to know each employer, including their operations, workforce, safety practices, and unique exposures. Together, they establish clear procedures for responding to workplace accidents and conducting post-accident drug testing. They also help supervisors understand their responsibilities so they are better prepared during a difficult situation.
It’s more than providing an employer with a protocol. It’s about building a relationship, having important conversations ahead of time, and giving employers an experienced partner they can turn to when they need support.
Putting the Severe Injury Protocol into Action
That preparation made a meaningful difference when an employee was seriously injured and needed emergency surgery. In a moment when the employer’s immediate concern was getting their employee the care they needed, they also knew they had a plan to follow. Because they had worked with their Risk Manager to prepare for severe workplace injuries, the employer activated the Severe Injury Protocol, requested a post-accident drug test at the hospital, and promptly notified Prescient National of the accident.
While the injured employee received the emergency medical care required, Prescient National began helping the employer navigate the claims process. Our team contacted the hospital to determine whether a specimen had been collected. Because hospitals may destroy specimens within 48 to 72 hours, preserving that information required prompt action.
Our Nurse Analyst then issued a Specimen Preservation Letter and worked closely with the hospital to ensure the specimen was preserved and obtained the information necessary for its release. She then coordinated a mobile drug testing company to retrieve the specimen and transport it to a laboratory for testing.
The outcome returned a positive test result. A positive test does not predetermine the outcome of every workers’ compensation claim. In this case, the test became an important part of the claims investigation. The timely collection and preservation of the specimen provided critical evidence that, together with the circumstances of the accident and applicable Georgia law, allowed Prescient National to effectively manage the employer’s exposure.
The Outcome Started with Partnership
Following the claim decision, reserves were reduced by nearly $100,000, significantly reducing the employer’s projected claim exposure. That is a notable financial outcome, but the story behind it matters just as much.
The outcome did not begin with a positive drug test. It began before the accident, with an employer committed to workplace safety and a Risk Manager committed to understanding their business. Together, they had established procedures for responding to a serious workplace accident. When an injury occurred, the employer was not navigating it alone. They knew what to do and who to call, and Prescient National was ready to respond.
That is the value of a high-touch workers’ compensation partnership. Risk Managers working alongside employers before a loss to help strengthen their safety programs and prepare them for the unexpected. Claims Specialists bringing the same level of responsiveness, expertise, and care to support the worker while thoroughly investigating the claim.
Workers’ compensation should never be about choosing between caring for people and managing claims responsibly. We believe employers deserve a partner committed to both. That is workers’ comp differently.
Workers’ compensation laws and intoxication defenses vary by state. Outcomes depend on the facts and applicable law in each individual claim.