Social Determinants Can Be Hurdles for Injured Workers, Experts Say

Social factors such as economic instability and childhood trauma can prevent some injured workers from seeking timely medical treatment and delay their return to work, a panel of experts said Thursday. And while traditional workers’ comp treatments have focused solely on physical injuries, case managers now must address underlying mental and social issues to avoid protracted claims processes and to ensure the well-being of injured workers, they said. “It’s so important to look at the injured worker in your claims from a holistic perspective,” said Mollie Kallen, p...