CARP Ontario Inc. believes that the limits placed on access to case management services are negatively impacting the recovery of people injured under Bill 59. CARP Ontario Inc. These concerns relate not only to those persons who have left with the disabling effects of traumatic brain injury but also their families and Ontario taxpayers. For those of us who work daily in the field of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, the impact of an injury to the brain is readily evident. While the private sector is well equipped to provide the services mentioned above, some of these services are not available from the public sector and those that are may have long waiting lists. When these limits are exhausted the injured accident victim must rely on public dollars to obtain the assistance that they require or, if the services they require are not available through the public facilities, must access the court system.
Lawsuits currently take years to get to court and are extremely costly for the insured.
An individual who has cognitive disabilities may be ill equipped to deal with these complex problems. The case management process, well-executed, allows an individual to reach his or her optimum level of wellness and functional capabilities. These goals are accomplished through client education, counselling, advocacy, inter-disciplinary communication, identification of appropriate resources and facilitation of services. Case management services may be offered instead by in-house insurance claims adjusters who lack the necessary skills and specialized knowledge to address the complex needs of survivors of brain injury. CARP Ontario Inc. believes that provision of vocational rehabilitation counselling in a timely manner, expedites return to former functional levels and return to work.