How Treatment Patterns Vary by Part of Body and Drive Medical Utilization:
The Medical Treatment Statistics report examines medical treatment patterns for Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claimants by part of body injured. Using Unit Statistical Reports to identify injury categories and Pennsylvania Medical Data Call transactions to analyze treatment activity, the report evaluates office visits, physical medicine, surgeries, and prescription drug use during the first two years following an injury. Based on policy years 2018 through 2020, the analysis provides a consistent, statewide view of how injury characteristics influence treatment timing, utilization, and cost within the workers’ compensation system.
>40%
Share of claims with shoulder and upper arm injuries requiring surgery, the highest rate among all parts of body analyzed.
What’s in the report
- Care typically begins quickly. For most injuries, the first doctor visit occurs the same day or the next day following the accident, indicating prompt access to initial medical evaluation.
- Physical medicine is common but unevenly distributed. The median number of physical medicine visits is 11, with shoulder and upper arm injuries experiencing substantially higher utilization than other injury types.
- Surgical exposure is concentrated. Approximately 28% of claims involve at least one surgery, with shoulder and upper arm injuries accounting for the largest share of both total and major surgeries.