The Matrix Return-to-Work Plus program provides options to employers who are unable to accommodate their injured workers’ temporary work restrictions.  Recently a study has found that there are many benefits to utilizing wearable technology in the insurance industry; wearable technology refers to miniature electronic devices that are worn under or on top of clothing or are somehow attached to the body. They can even be part of clothing.

These devices are capable of collecting a variety of data including video and audio on the driving, eating, exercise and other habits and behavior of those wearing them and then communicating this data over computers or smartphones to third parties such as insurance companies.

Within insurance, there are various areas of potential use for wearable devices including marketing, underwriting, risk management, new product development, workers’ compensation and personal auto injury claims management.

According to Denise Garth, a partner at the research firm, SMA, Garth considers wearable technology a game changer for the insurance industry with the benefits of using wearable devices appearing in the areas of risk management and return-to-work.

“All of these wearables are really fascinating from the standpoint of helping to, I think, manage or reduce risks. It’s helping to restore people’s health in a faster way by being able to remotely, in a real time basis, monitor them and get them back to work…and then also to be able to manage the overall risk of the individual,” said Denise Garth.

“It really allows a whole different way of monitoring and managing their [injured workers’] recuperation to get them back to work. That lowers claims cost,” said Denise Garth. “That’s the real opportunity there.” -Denise Johnson, Claims Journal