An injury management plan is a document by the insurer outlining the key steps in an injured worker's recovery.
Overview of an injury management plan
An injury management plan (IMP) is a comprehensive plan created by the insurer in collaboration with the worker and key stakeholders to facilitate recovery and return to work after an injury.
The IMP coordinates treatment, rehabilitation, and strategies to achieve the agreed return to work (RTW) goal, while outlining the roles of the injured worker, treating doctor, and employer.
What should be included in an IMP?
- Case Details: The injured worker's name, claim number, date of birth, injury details, employer details, and the nominated treating doctor details.
- Recovery Goals: You may focus on regaining independence or short-term objectives depending on the injury type. Four aspects that can be considered are: social goals, self-care and activities of daily living goals, RTW-based goals, and treatment goals.
- Tailored Actions: Steps to address barriers to recovery, including the responsibilities of the employer, insurer, and healthcare providers.
- Review Schedule: Regular evaluations to keep the plan relevant and reassess risks of delayed recovery across four domains: personal, workplace, insurer, and healthcare.
Are IMPs legally required?
Per NSW workers compensation legislation, the insurer is required to develop an IMP upon notification of an injury, as long as the injury incapacitates a worker for more than 7 days. The IMP must be filed with SIRA.
Timeline for updating the IMP
According to icare, the injured worker will receive an initial liability letter from their insurer one week after the injury, and the insurer case manager will make contact to develop a collaborative, tailored IMP on day 20.
The IMP can be updated whenever there is a significant change in the worker's recovery. These changes may involve modifications to the RTW goal, referrals for rehabilitation services, capacity adjustments, or approvals for surgery or other treatments.