Elevating injury case management: A Discussion with Verdale Benson

Verdale Benson, Associate Clinical Director at CAREonsite.

Read our interview with Verdale Benson (PA-C) to learn how effective injury case management and personalized care help elevate employee care.

Author: Krystal Martinez-Torrez

October 24, 2024

Any business’s number one asset is its employees, which is why providing the best occupational health is critical to success and productivity.

But what should a company look for in an occupational health vendor to help them provide the best care for their employees?

CAREonsite sat down with our Associate Clinical Director Verdale Benson (PA-C) to learn more about how effective injury case management, an occupational health partnership, and a dedication to personal care are key ingredients to better caring for employees.

Question 1: Tell us about your medical experience and role at CAREonsite.

Verdale Benson (PA-C): My medical experience began in the Army Medical Service Corps. As a Lieutenant deployed to Afghanistan, I led a platoon of combat medics who provided medical support on the battlefield.

After the military, I studied to be a Physician Assistant at the prestigious Emory School of Medicine and completed my post-grad residency at the Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Before joining CAREonsite, I worked for a private practice in Orthopedics/Sports Medicine and led a team of Advanced Practitioners at a Level II Trauma Emergency Department.

For the last seven years at CAREonsite, I have served as the lead clinical provider for the CAREonsite clinic in Martinez, California. Recently, I became the Associate Clinical Director for the entire organization.

Question 2: Tell us one interesting fact about yourself.

Verdale Benson (PA-C): I was a competitor on the NBC show “American Ninja Warrior” for seven seasons, and in 2019 qualified as a National Finalist!

It was an amazing experience challenging myself and competing with others at a national level.

Verdale on American Ninja Warrior

Question 3: As an associate clinical director explain your role in injury case management and the importance of creating quality outcomes.

Verdale Benson (PA-C): Quality outcomes result from putting the care of  injured employee first and providing compassionate, evidence-based care that facilitates recovery without unnecessary treatment.

As Associate Clinical Director, I work with our medical leadership and providers to ensure every step of CAREonsite’s injury case management is built to achieve the best outcomes possible with carefully crafted protocols allowing any virtual or onsite medical professional to escalate cases to an expert medical provider immediately when needed.

Question 4: What should an EHS professional look for in an occupational health vendor to more effectively handle injury case management?

Verdale Benson (PA-C): Achieving good outcomes for injured workers is a collaborative effort between an organization’s EHS team and the vendor they work with. That is why I suggest looking for occupational medical vendors willing to partner with your team to achieve the best outcomes.

In my experience, good occupational health partnerships are based on open communication at every stage of the care pathway to ensure the injured employee feels cared for and can return to work as quickly and safely as possible.

I’m proud of CAREonsite’s industry-leading injury case protocols, but I’m even more proud of our focus on building effective partnerships that move the needle.

Question 5: How Important is Medical Staff Training? How do you ensure CAREonsite medical staff follow OSHA guidelines and the latest best practices?

Verdale Benson (PA-C): Delivering the best care to injured employees hinges on having a well-trained staff who know how to use the latest evidence-based care.

That is why CAREonsite prioritizes the training for our medical staff in two key ways:

  1. An orientation onboarding program for all staff focusing on the latest occupational medical and OSHA guidelines.

  2. Monthly clinical discussions and presentations to keep our staff updated on the best practices for consistent care delivery.

Question 6: As an associate clinical director, explain how your involvement in provider oversight makes a difference for clients and patients.

Verdale Benson (PA-C): I lead our senior-level team of providers who are available 24/7 for medical oversight of cases.

Clear escalation pathways to senior-level providers empower our virtual and onsite medical teams to seek the highest level of care. Let me give you an example of how this makes a difference for patients and clients.

Without available escalation pathways to provider oversight:
If a vendor’s medic or nurse (onsite or virtual) doesn’t have the medical knowledge or experience to properly triage and treat an injury, they will refer the injured worker to an off-site clinic. This usually results in unnecessary and costly overtreatment because most local urgent care clinics do not understand occupational medical needs.

With escalation pathways to provider oversight:
When a medic or nurse (onsite or virtual) runs into an issue, they can immediately escalate the case to a senior-level medical provider who reviews the injury and guides them to the appropriate treatment. In the majority of cases, the provider is able to keep the injury onsite and have it treated with first aid, totally avoiding the need to deal with an outside clinic.

Question 7: You mentioned a personal care approach – what philosophy guides you as an associate clinical director?

Verdale Benson (PA-C): At CAREonsite, we are trained to treat our patients like family, and that mantra is woven into the fabric of our organization. Personally, my passion for being a healthcare professional started after witnessing my father succumb to the ills of metabolic disease. I approach every patient encounter as an opportunity to help direct their life path toward better health. My goal is to be the provider my father needed, to help educate and empower their patients towards a healthier lifestyle.

Verdale and his family.

Question 8: Apart from medicine, what is one achievement you are proud of?

Verdale Benson (PA-C): My pride and joy outside of medicine are being a husband and father to two sons. For me, it’s an honor to be responsible for shaping my sons into productive young men within society.

Question 9: What is one piece of advice you would give to any business about better preventing and caring for work-related injuries?

Verdale Benson (PA-C): As an Army officer, I was trained to anticipate what could go wrong when planning a mission. When it comes to the workplace, planning and assessing potential holes in safety can make a big difference in mitigating work-related injuries.

When a business works with an occupational health provider to anticipate and prepare for hazards that could cause an injury and has clear steps of what to do if an injury occurs, it is a big step towards achieving optimal outcomes.

Learn more:

Please go here to read about the model of care that sets CAREonsite services apart.