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Section III of this guide provides detailed information about implementation. This section gives an overview of the important considerations when planning for implementation.  

Scale

Typically, 30 to 50% of people assessed are identified as having elevated psychosocial risk for prolonged work disability. This means a significant proportion of those with lost time claims may need to be offered further assessment and counselling, an important consideration for resource planning.

Required resources and capabilities

Implementing psychosocial matched care requires specific resources and capabilities:

•A dedicated project manager to oversee implementation and ongoing operation

•Communications coaching support for case managers

•Implementation tools including checklists and workflow guides

•Reference materials mapping screening tools to injury types

•Systems for assessing and tracking case manager competency

Organisations should particularly focus on developing case managers' communication capabilities. Experience shows that case managers need to achieve competency in motivational interactions before delivering screening tools. This includes mastering sensitive discussions about referrals and using appropriate language (avoiding terms like "high risk" when speaking with workers).

Availability of trained professionals

The success of this system depends heavily on having professionals trained in biopsychosocial counselling. The current availability of such professionals and any need for additional training or recruitment must be considered.

Developing institutional expertise

Establishing a community of practice can be valuable for sharing knowledge, experiences and best practices. This collaborative approach can help organisations navigate challenges and refine their implementation strategies over time.

System architecture

The existing architecture of workers' compensation systems may not easily accommodate the integration of psychosocial data collection and management. Assessing the current capabilities and potential need for system modifications is an important early step.

Case manager constraints

High caseloads and existing procedural guidelines may limit case managers' capacity to adopt new approaches. How to create the time and flexibility needed for case managers to effectively implement the new system must be considered. Psychosocial case management training will incentivise procedural change.

Data collection and management

The transition to a biopsychosocial approach requires the evaluation of existing data collection frameworks. How to efficiently collect, store and use psychosocial data in the current technological infrastructure must be considered.

Balancing innovation and current obligations

Implementing a new approach while maintaining effective management under the current system can be challenging. Organisations need to consider how to balance these competing demands, possibly through pilot programs or phased implementation.