Between 1990 and 2017, WorkSafeBC accepted 30 170 new traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims, of which 98.4% were diagnosed as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). The average age of the claimants was 38 years, 68% were male, and 95% returned fully to their job after a short period of time away from work.
TBI, often called an invisible injury, is quite common. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the leading causes of TBI as falls (28%), motor vehicle traffic accidents (20%), struck-by or -against events (19%), and assaults (11%). Of the total reported TBIs, 75% to 90% fit the categorization of MTBI. About 90% of those diagnosed with MTBI follow a predictable course, experience few, if any, ongoing symptoms, and do not require any special medical treatment. Of the more than 1.1 million patients with MTBI who are treated and released from an emergency department annually, only about 10% experience postinjury symptoms of a long-lasting nature.
WorkSafeBC’s Special Care Services Department has a team comprising experienced case managers and clinicians who are responsible for managing all new claims and the majority of existing claims for injured workers with a severe brain injury. Special Care Services case managers remain with their clients for the duration of their claim, monitoring the worker’s progress from the date of injury to the initial adjudication and beyond.
Each worker’s situation is unique, and our staff members strive to provide the services and support to best meet the individual needs of each client and their family. Health Care Services collaborates with services and providers whose key priorities are to assist clients in gaining and maintaining independence in self-care, and developing return-to-work plans, when appropriate.
The following WorkSafeBC services are designed specifically for workers who have sustained TBIs:
If you have an injured worker patient with a TBI and require further information or assistance, please contact a medical advisor in your nearest WorkSafeBC office.
—Andrea McNeill, BScOT, BA Psych, OT(C)
Quality Assurance Supervisor, WorkSafeBC Financial Services & Health Care Programs
—Lori Cockerill, MBA, BScOT, BScPsy
Manager, WorkSafeBC Client Services—Special Care
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This article is the opinion of WorkSafeBC and has not been peer reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board.
Links
[1] https://bcmj.org/cover/december-2018
[2] https://bcmj.org/author/andrea-mcneill-bscot-ba-psych-otc
[3] https://bcmj.org/author/lori-cockerill-mba-bscot-bscpsy
[4] https://bcmj.org/node/6967
[5] https://bcmj.org/sites/default/files/BCMJ_Vol60_No10-worksafe.pdf
[6] https://bcmj.org/print/worksafebc/traumatic-brain-injuries
[7] https://bcmj.org/printmail/worksafebc/traumatic-brain-injuries
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