Breakthroughs in the Use of Wearable Technology for Workers’ Compensation

When a paralyzed mother crossed the finish line of the 26.2-mile London Marathon in a bionic suit, it marked a watershed moment for wearable technology; the exoskeleton had arrived.

The recent FDA approval of the exoskeleton, which enables paraplegics, amputees and people with muscle or nerve damage to walk, is the latest milestone in the new world of wearable technology for injured workers, according to Zack Craft, ATP, Vice President of Rehab Solutions and Complex Care Education at One Call Care Management (“One Call”).

Craft spoke on wearable technology and workers’ compensation at the RIMS 2016 Annual Conference held April 10 – 13 in San Diego, California, along with Felicia Amenta, Workers’ Compensation Program Manager for San Diego County and Imperial Schools. Their presentation, “The New Game Changer in Managing Worksite Health: Wearable Technology,” introduced attendees to ways in which wearable technology can benefit injured workers, their employers and payers.

• Major advantages offered by this new technology include:
• Faster recovery and return to work
• Improved quality of life for seriously injured workers
• Boosts in workplace productivity
• Lower overall claims costs for injuries

Speaking about the exoskeleton, Craft noted: “For an employee with catastrophic injuries, the exoskeleton holds enormous potential to give them back a part of their lives they thought was lost forever.”

Other types of wearable technology that are applicable in the workplace range from postural devices to activity trackers to GPS locators. Benefits of these devices include wellness, prevention of injuries, increased productivity, compliance with treatment regimes to prevent injury and avoid re-injury, and enhanced independence and quality of life.

As wearable technologies are introduced into the workplace, and especially for the treatment of injured workers, specialists such as assistive technology experts can advise claims managers on which technologies may be most appropriate, taking into consideration the long-term view of the injury, the home environment, and patients’ needs for functionality and independence.

For more information about how wearable technology can improve productivity, enhance the quality of life for injured workers and even lower overall claims costs, contact Zack Craft at: 800-848-1989.