Giving Employers Data-Driven Solutions To Prevent Injuries, Improve Return to Work

Giving Employers Data-Driven Solutions To Prevent Injuries, Improve Return to Work

The Hartford Staff
With more than 50 million claims insights generated each year, The Hartford continues to use its data to find innovative ways to return employees to active, productive lives as soon and safely as possible.
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Contributors
Dana Blasko
Dana Blasko, Vice President Performance Analytics, The Hartford
Josh Janes
Josh Janes, Regional Vice President of Construction, The Hartford
Mary Nasenbenny
Mary Nasenbenny, Chief Claims Officer, The Hartford
03/14/2023
Liderazgo Safety & Preparation
When it comes to keeping employees safe, The Hartford makes worker wellbeing a key priority – and focuses on leveraging data and analysis to create innovative practices.
 
When Amazon broke ground for its Air Hub in Lexington, Kentucky in 2019, the retailer partnered with The Hartford for an on-site injury prevention and clinical services program. The goal was to keep its workers safe and healthy on the construction site. The Hartford’s on-site program gives Amazon’s construction workers access to:
 
  • First aid treatment
  • Wellness programs
  • Injury Prevention strategies and tips
A year later, Amazon partnered again with The Hartford while building its HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia.
 
The Hartford offers a solution that incorporates claims management, risk control, and on-site medical and drug testing. This solution is a thorough and efficient combination of strategies that drive more efficiency and collaboration – while helping to keep employees safe.
 
Throughout the four-year partnership at HQ2, Amazon is seeing a significant return on their investment, resulting in a substantial amount of avoided workers’ compensation claims – and protecting the health and safety of over 5,600 workers. Based on on-site data, 92% of workers who were treated by an on-site clinician returned to work the same day, resulting in a decreased time away from work and a more productive workforce.
 
Josh Janes, regional vice president of construction at The Hartford, added that an offering like the injury prevention services program is a valuable asset for businesses.
 
“When it comes to employee injuries, construction is one of the most dangerous industries just because of the nature of the work,” Janes explained. “Having an on-site program with the goal of preventing and treating any injuries is a win-win scenario. Workers stay safe on the job, and construction businesses don’t suffer from productivity losses.”
 
The success of the injury prevention services program wouldn't be possible without The Hartford's innovative work with claims data analysis.
 
“We’ve invested more than $120 million on claim and data systems and staff,” said Mary Nasenbenny, chief claims officer at The Hartford. “Our systems and data experts enable us to analyze our vast datasets to proactively identify actionable insights that help create better outcomes for both employers and their employees.”
 

Data Is Power

The risks and challenges that businesses face are constantly evolving. The Hartford knows this and to keep up with changes, it must maintain a forward-thinking mindset and innovate. It’s why the company has put an emphasis on claims data and using predictive analytics to improve outcomes for the last 13 years.
 
“As a leading provider of workers’ compensation and group benefits, we have the largest and richest source of data related to successfully and safely return employees to work. But that data is only as good as it’s used,” Nasenbenny said. “Our insights and solutions can provide a roadmap for employers to even prevent claims from occurring in the first place.”
 
While having access to large claim data sets is a good thing, knowing how to use the information is where the value is. With more than 125 claims data and analytics experts, the company has a team dedicated to leveraging the data to build innovative, integrated offerings for customers.
 
“Having data is one thing, using the data is another. Understanding how to use it well is what’s most important,” said Dana Blasko, vice president of performance analytics at The Hartford. “Just because you can measure something, it doesn’t mean you should; it’s important to consider why you want to watch a metric and at what granularity is appropriate to monitor it, so you drive the right behavior and outcome for all parties involved.”
 

The Hartford’s Insight FactoryTM

The Hartford created the Insight Factory,TM a multi-faceted process that creates new insights based on claims data and actionable solutions.

The Hartford's Insights Factory: Using Data to Create Better Claims Outcomes

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Data
Combined group benefits and workers' comp data gives us a unique competitive advantage.
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Predictive Models
50 MM insights annually and growing.
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Outcomes
Getting employees back to work in less time—saving more than just insurance costs.
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Talent & Systems
$120 MM data investments, 125 claims data and analytics experts.
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Intervention
Activating the right resources at the right time.
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Costs
Reducing the duration and cost of claims is a win-win-win for employees, employers and us.
 
 
Here’s a breakdown of The Hartford’s Insight Factory:
 
  • Data from its workers’ compensation and group disability businesses
  • Talent and systems to make sure the right people are working on the data and know what to do with it
  • Predictive models generating more than 50 million unique customer insights each year
  • Intervention so the right resources get activated at the right time
  • Outcomes that help employees get back to work in less time – as safely as possible
  • Costs with the goal to reduce the duration and cost of claims because it’s a win-win-win for employee and employer
“Our machine learning helps us predict possible prolonged duration and apply the right response from one of 300-plus clinical staff to help avoid unnecessary delays in recovery,” Nasenbenny said. “Through the dedication of our clinical staff, we help over 1 million people annually return to active, productive lives.”
 

Using Claims Data to Fuel New Initiatives

Investing in data and analytics means there’s a regular flow of new information coming in each day. The Hartford estimates it mines nearly 5 million pieces of data daily. This data is analyzed by a team of experts within The Hartford to aid in creating new ideas and initiatives.
 
“We reflect on what insights data can allow us to uncover and what actions we should take to solve a business problem,” Blasko explained. “Predictive analytics can inform varying servicing needs to triage issues to the right level of resource before problems emerge.”
 
Since 2008, the company developed 30 predictive modeling systems. It uses these models to help identify more complex claims as early in the process as possible. This can give claims real-time guidance, engage the right support and experts on the matter right away, enabling faster recovery and overall savings.
 
Finding innovative ways to use claims data has led The Hartford to offering unique programs to help employers and employees. Our analysis has shown that certain biological, psychological or social factors can delay recovery. In real time, The Hartford’s analytics mines for the presence of feelings of fear, passivity and perceived injustice, all of which can serve as barriers to recovery. This allows us to intervene with specialized services, such as clinicians and recovery coaches, to give injured workers coping skills and expedite their recovery.
 
Through The Hartford’s investments in analytics and insights, the company decreased the average workers’ comp duration by 4%. The integrated offerings and programs the insurer offers also help workers return to work nearly 3.5 days faster.
 

Injury Prevention Services

Keeping workers safe at a construction site or in any workplace environment is a key part to a business’ success. From long recovery times and missed days of work to retraining costs, work-related injuries or illnesses can significantly impact a business and its productivity.
 
In fact, it’s estimated that employers pay nearly $1 billion a week for direct workers’ compensation costs alone.1
 
Knowing how much of an effect injuries and illnesses can have on an employer, The Hartford launched an injury prevention services offering in 2019. The offering has since expanded to provide services in both on-site and virtual settings. Through a partnership with trusted clinical service partners, the program gives workers access to industry specific services that provide:
 
  • Employee wellness
  • First aid treatment
  • Proactive injury prevention
The Hartford created the offering after data revealed the significant frequency and total cost of musculoskeletal injury claims.
 
“Our goal is to improve the overall health and wellness of workers, so we’ll continue to analyze our workers’ compensation and disability claims data to inform our direction,” Amber Walton, Director of Solutions said. “We focus on where we can either address an unmet customer need or where we can provide a unique value proposition leveraging analytic insights and clinical prevention services.”
 
It’s not just construction customers that can benefit from The Hartford’s injury prevention services program. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, 15% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in manufacturing operations.2 Studies show that in-person injury prevention services can reduce musculoskeletal injuries by 50-60%.3
 

Using Claims Data to Address Employee Mental Health Needs

If an employee is hurt or becomes sick from their job, there can often be more to their injury than just the physical impacts. The severity of the injury and length of time out of work can also impact their mental health, Nasenbenny said. Part of The Hartford’s data analysis also addresses this area of employee injuries and illnesses.
 
“Our group benefits team has developed a strong behavioral health team with experienced clinicians,” Nasenbenny said. “We can engage this team to advise on mental health conditions that impact workers’ comp injuries. There’s a great benefit to having a behavioral expert available for consult on claims where an injured or ill worker becomes depressed or experiences other mental health conditions.”
 

Using Claims Data Analysis to Deliver Valuable Outcomes

Having access to claims data doesn’t mean much unless it leads to meaningful changes. While data and information are one part of the equation, knowing what to do with it and generating insights that can help customers is the other part.
 
The work that the data science team does is helping build The Hartford’s reputation as an insurance company that strives to reduce worker injuries and keep them safe, all while increasing productivity and improving outcomes.
 
“We continue to seek new and better ways to leverage artificial intelligence to guide claim professionals’ decision-making and automate certain tasks,” Nasenbenny said. “This ultimately will continue improving our customers’ claim experience.”
 
To learn more about The Hartford’s injury prevention services offering, email healthservices@thehartford.com para obtener mayor información.
 
 
1 United States Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Business Case for Safety and Health”
2 United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2019”
3 Data based on a study done by Concentra for customers who have had on-site services in place for at least one year.
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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries, including the underwriting company Hartford Fire insurance Company, under the brand name, The Hartford,® and is headquartered in Hartford, CT. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice at https://www.thehartford.com.
The Hartford Staff
The Hartford Staff
Our editorial team spans writers, researchers, product specialists and subject matter experts. We cover the intersection where best practices and business insights meet.

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