CWCI Launches New CT Claim Interactive Research Application

In March of last year, CWCI published our most recent study on cumulative trauma (CT) claims in the California workers’ compensation system, which was based on data from 1.4 million CT claims with claims administrator notification dates ranging from 2010 through 2022.  That research tracked the growth of CT claims in California workers’ compensation and examined the impact that factors such as region, tenure, industry, age, and average weekly wage have on the likelihood of CT claims.

CT claims have become a significant cost driver in the system, and recent data show they have become more prevalent throughout the state.  Given their growing impact, Institute research on CT claims is continuing, and as a corollary to that research, we are pleased to announce the release of our latest interactive application that members can use to examine CT claim trends in California and to build customized views of CT claim data, which is presented in a series of seven data dashboards. Data on CT growth trends (CT claims as a percentage of all claims) and CT claim average time to employer and carrier notice, derived from the DWC’s WCIS database, are featured in the first four tabs; followed by three tabs derived from CWCI’s IRIS database, including CT claim distributions by region and industry and average payment data on CT claims.

Each data dashboard includes filters so users can choose specific metrics and build customized views of the data.  Filters available on the various dashboards allow users to break the data out by year; region; industry; COVID status; insured status; quarter and month; cause of injury, nature of injury, affected body part; claim type; payment type; claim type; claim development; attorney involvement; and premium size.  Once the metrics are selected, the results automatically display in the accompanying tables and graphics, with regional data displayed in color-coded heat   maps.  To guide users through the app, the Institute has put together an Interactive Research Report that reviews the data available in each dashboard, the options available for generating customized views, and screenshots of the data and exhibits.  

How to Access the Interactive Research Report and Application

CWCI’s Cumulative Trauma Claim Interactive Research Report is posted along with other CWCI studies in the Research Reports section under the Research tab on our home page, while the Cumulative Trauma Claim Interactive Research Application is one of eight interactive research apps that CWCI members can access on our website by logging on with their username and password.  (If you haven’t set up a member account, select “Your Account” at the top of the home page, click “Add me as a Member User” from the pull-down menu, complete the form, then use the information to log in).  CWCI also plans to produce a free on-demand webinar to demonstrate how the App can be used and to highlight recent CT claims data.  We will alert you when we post the webinar on our website.

The Cumulative Trauma Claim Interactive Research Application is part of our ongoing effort to provide members with analytical tools that allow a more comprehensive, interactive experience based on CWCI research, which in this case includes data from both the IRIS database and from DWC’s WCIS database.  If you have questions or need help accessing or using our interactive apps, call CWCI at 510-251-9470.

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