Claims coordinator responsibilities

Every organization large to small should have a designated "claims coordinator"--the point person responsible for reporting work injuries to SFM. The claims coordinator is a critical communications link between your organization and your SFM claims representative.

As claim coordinator, you're responsible to:

1. Train employees how to report work injuries.

Your employees and supervisors need to know how, when and to whom to report work injuries.

Make sure all supervisors in your organization have your contact information. Use the "Supervisor responsibilities" sheet or other tools such as posters found in SFM's online "Resource catalog."

2. Work with a chosen clinic.

An employee who's been injured should get treatment at the clinic you have a relationship with. Call the clinic to make sure the injured employee is expected and to let the doctor know you have transitional work available if the employee is unable to go back to full duties.

3. Report work injuries to SFM.

Report an injury right away, ideally within 24 hours. The easiest, fastest and most efficient way to report is online through CompOnline®, SFM's password-protected website facility. Learn more about CompOnline.

Be as accurate and complete as possible. Stay in contact with your SFM claims representative. Be sure to let your claims representative know if the employee misses work or if information has changed after you reported the injury to SFM.

4. Work with the injured employee.

If the employee is missing work, call right away to see how he's doing. Ask about his status, the doctor's evaluation and how he is feeling.

Good communication is essential. Lack of it can cause fear or uncertainty that sometimes leads the injured employee to call a lawyer.

5. Identify transitional jobs.

It's your job to bring the employee back to work as soon as possible. This is a critical step in controlling the costs of the claim and its impact on your organization's work comp premium. Identifying lighter-duty, transitional jobs for the employee will bring him back sooner if he is unable to return to full duties.

Transitional jobs may include part-time work, existing jobs with different physical requirements, alternated job tasks or modified jobs. Think outside the box. Take suggestions from supervisors.

6. Stay on track.

Once the employee has returned to work, contact the employee and supervisor weekly to review progress. Stay in touch with the treating doctor after each visit to reevaluate job restrictions. Call your SFM claims representative with any updates to the injured employee's status.

Stay current on claims in progress through CompOnline. Here you can access up-to-the-minute information about what's happening on a specific claim. Work with your safety coordinator or others to prevent this type of injury from recurring.

7. Request a hard copy of the "Employer Kit" and keep it handy as your reference.

It lays out the steps for reporting claims, return to work and more. Order a free copy through SFM's online "Resource catalog."