The development and implementation of innovative technology in workers’ compensation healthcare means leaning into a bold future and delivering marked change within an industry that has remained unchanged for too long. With the rising demand for advancement, there are now more sources of innovation competing at the forefront of building dynamic platforms and tech tools than ever before.

Here are just a few of the many ways innovative tech is transforming workers’ compensation healthcare:

1. The New Apps

Advances in app‐based technology allow employer representatives and employees to improve injury reporting and better manage workers’ compensation claims via apps downloaded to their phones that can document worker injuries for quicker claim response. This technology allows employer representatives to initiate the claims process immediately after a work injury occurs by uploading photos or videos taken by phone directly to a newly created or open claim, and instantly submitting claims to their workers’ comp insurance carrier.

Employers will benefit from better tools to document and report work injuries, while injured employees will receive immediate direction regarding medical care. Real‐time claim dashboards provide immediate live access to a claim handler, ensuring all information is received, the incident is properly documented, and direct medical care is readily available and easily accessible. They also allow claim handlers to send direct notifications of timely information regarding claim status and important matters such as wage loss payments or approval of medical care.

2. Moving to Marketplace Dynamics

Forget everything you know about traditional network contract models. Today’s digital marketplaces are powered by point‐in‐time pricing that gives providers flexibility to set their own rates based on current supply and demand, breaking convoluted pricing loops, and smoothing price variation.

With fewer (or even zero) required contract rates or long‐term fixed pricing, providers can set their standing rates or customize them by location or for individual cases to maximize new revenue opportunities. And with expedited payments, digital marketplaces allow providers to earn more on reimbursement, have increased surety of reimbursement amounts, and alleviate long holds for payment and the pressure of collections.

Most importantly, today’s digital marketplace dynamics connect payors and providers in open and transparent platforms that automate manual processes and eliminate redundancies, improving workers’ compensation processes and case or service handling for all involved.

3. The Rise of Automation

Digital healthcare platforms significantly streamline administrative processes. Combining automated billing, payment and scheduling functions can deliver greater cost savings and improved efficiencies for payors, while providing more growth opportunities and contract certainty for service providers.

The Inevitability of Adoption

The technology to refashion the workers’ compensation process has arrived. Evolving customer demand for speed and convenience, is driving insurers to leverage the latest technology to get products to market faster. While there may be costs associated with development and implementation, the long‐term benefits of using these tools provide injured employees with greater access to critical information and medical care, and reduce workers’ compensation program costs for employers, insurers and healthcare providers alike.