|
|
|
The Facts
In July 2005 – June 2006 there were 2,627 gradual onset claims lodged with ACC, almost all gradual onset claims are musculoskeletal in nature.
The vast majority of gradual onset claims could be avoided if employers used early intervention to manage their employees, pain, injury and discomfort.
ACC primarily deal with injuries and therefore do not generally handle the gradual onset cases which means that this 2,627 represents the tip of the iceberg in terms of gradual onset discomfort, pain and injury in New Zealand. Cases of gradual onset discomfort, pain and injury that are cumulative in build up, rather than caused by a specific injury, in most cases have to be funded by the individual employee or the employer.
The longer the pain has been occurring the harder it will be to resolve and the more treatments resolution is likely to take.
Discomfort, pain and injury that is left untreated for 2 – 3 months could take around 8 treatments to completely resolve, or even require specialist opinion and investigation. Discomfort, pain and injury that is treated early, within the first week or so, would be more likely to take around 4 treatments to resolve.
Therefore the cost of the episode could easily be doubled (both the time and dollar cost) if the discomfort, pain or injury is left untreated for any length of time.
|
|
|
|
