The Connection Magazine AIM MUTUAL Spring 2020 | Page 4

BEYOND THE FIRST REPORT
Beyond The
First Report
IN THE FINAL PART OF THIS THREE-
PART SERIES, A.I.M. MUTUAL CLAIM
SUPERVISORS RECOUNT WORKERS’
COMPENSATION CASES THAT RESONATE
WITH THEM. THESE CLAIMS ARE OFTEN
INTEGRATED INTO TRAINING PROGRAMS
TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE TEAM.
Communication and Collaboration
By: Lena DeChristoforo,
Senior Claim Supervisor
THIS CLAIM made a lasting impact
because it showed the importance of
communication across the board: with the
injured worker, the employer, the broker,
and our team of experts, including our nurse
advocate and medical director. By having a
great flow of communication, we were able
to get the employee, who had a significant
injury and complex issues, back to work
sooner than we had anticipated. Moreover,
our efforts convinced him that he would not
need an attorney.
This case had many challenges. The
injured worker, a driver and longtime
employee, ruptured his right major bicep
while using an electric pump jack. A
recently divorced father of three, he was
especially concerned about making child
support payments. Yet diagnostic testing
was delayed while his medical team
worked to find suitable equipment. His
size—close to seven feet tall and over 500
pounds—dictated a specialty MRI unit.
Our Nurse Advocate Charlene Churchill
and Clinical Director Diane Silvia located
the machine. Testing was followed by
high risk but successful surgery, and the
employee’s recovery was expected to take
a year. Our mission was to keep the injured
worker motivated to return to work once
able. We kept the policyholder updated,
closely monitoring the injured worker’s
progress, and calling him frequently.
Despite our involvement, the employee
felt isolated from work since his company
was no longer calling. He shared with me
his plans to hire an attorney.
We immediately called the employer,
stressing the importance of ongoing
contact. We also reached out to the broker,
who in turn talked with the employer
about keeping in touch. The employer
understood and resumed contact with
the injured worker. Six months ahead of
schedule, remarkably, he returned to work.
I share this case all the time when
training because it demonstrates the
importance of communication in a
complex medical and emotional situation.
Through the work of so many, we were
able to achieve success with a good result
for all.
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