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In workers' compensation the traditional approach to managing injured workers' health and recovery has been the biomedical model. This model places a strong emphasis on the physical aspects of an injury or illness and aims to identify and treat the biological cause of the problem. The healthcare provider's role is to diagnose the condition and prescribe a treatment plan focused on resolving the symptoms, with the assumption that this will result in a recovery and return to work.

While the biomedical model has its place, it has several significant drawbacks:

Excessive investigation and overtreatment

The biomedical model frequently leads to excessive investigation and overtreatment, and unnecessary medicalisation.  Over-investigation and overtreatment often lead to increased concerns about the condition and fear avoidance patterns of behaviour and worse outcomes. The biomedical model's narrow focus on physical symptoms can lead to an overreliance on pharmacological interventions such as opioids.

Ignores psychological and social factors

Another limitation of the biomedical model is its failure to consider the critical role of psychological and social factors in an injured worker's recovery and RTW. By ignoring these elements healthcare providers miss opportunities to address psychosocial barriers that can significantly impede progress.