Insurance and Care NSW (icare) is running a six-month pilot program of holistic treatment plans for injured workers.

CEO John Nagle says the RecoveryPlus scheme in Sydney will use a clinical care co-ordinator to manage the delivery of a treatment plan with every patient, which will improve approval times. Patients with hand, knee and shoulder injuries will take part.

Using holistic treatment plans rather than separately approving each individual intervention will open opportunities for people to return to work, he says.

It is also expected to improve efficiency for service providers.

Treatment plans will be developed in collaboration with the patient and specialists and may include surgery, nursing care, allied health services and other support. Each of these interventions currently requires individual approval.

icare hopes to have results from the pilot by the end of the year.