Wearable technology is a category of technology devices that can be worn by an individual to collect tracking information related to health and fitness. Some wearables have small motion sensors to report data back to the user. Today, many wearable devices are embedded in jewelry, clothing, shoes, bionic suits and smart helmets. These wearables use sophisticated biosensors to track metrics such as physical activity, heart rate, fatigue, stress and mood.
Wearables may be one of the fastest growing technology sectors, predicted to hit $10 billion annually within the next three years. And according to an article in Property Casualty 360, they’re poised to become a trend in the management of injured workers. And the workers’ compensation industry is staking a claim in wearable technology.
Employers and payers already are adopting wearable technology in the workplace to reduce costs and improve safety and productivity through injury prevention and recovery. Applications can range from tracking locations to reduce the risk of injury in unsafe areas, to monitoring posture and compliance with ergonomic use of equipment, to using smart wheelchairs and exoskeletons to improve and restore mobility.
The RIMS 2016 presentation, “The New Game Changer in Managing Worksite Health: Wearable Technology,” identified four main categories of wearable technology with significant potential for workers’ compensation.
1) Postural Devices: The use of postural devices in the workplace is intended to positively remind employees to be aware of their posture throughout the day. Workers are sent an alert if they repeatedly slouch or deviate from an ergonomically correct position. This assistive technology benefits employees by reminding them to stretch or adjust periodically while also helping to prevent ergonomic-related workers’ compensation claims.
2) Activity Trackers: If a physical therapist has recommended physical activities such as daily walks to rebuild muscle strength, the case manager can track the degree of activity of that injured worker. If the tracking device records lower physical activity levels than prescribed, intervention and counseling can take place to improve compliance or develop a different treatment plan.
3) Exoskeletons: Injured workers such as paraplegics, amputees, and individuals with disabilities that include gait impediments can reclaim a part of their lives they thought was lost forever: walking. Recently approved by the FDA, Indego exoskeletons hold the potential to transform recovery in workers’ compensation claims by expanding the injured worker’s environment and level of independence, as well as increasing productivity and reducing the need for in-home care and other assistive devices.
4) Location trackers. In industries such as construction and mining, location trackers are an effective tool for injury prevention along with employee communication. From a prevention perspective, trackers can be set up to alert employers when workers enter unsafe areas. From a communications perspective, trackers allow employers to locate their employees in the event of an emergency for evacuation purposes. In addition, employees who are in danger can have a panic button feature that lets supervisors know immediately that they need help while transmitting their location.
Wearables are already beginning to improve the way workers’ compensation injuries are managed and prevented, getting injured workers healthy and back on the job quickly and safely. Although the industry is currently in the “early adopter” stage of incorporating wearables into its tool kit, we can expect to see considerable transformation in medical management and case management within the next several years.