Regard Integrated Care System

EDS has launched the Regard Integrated Care System, a workers' compensation system that aims to reduce direct and indirect costs to employers and increase productivity by helping workers return to work more quickly. The system will become operational this summer, initially serving the California marketplace.

EDS examined the working relationships between occupational health physicians, case managers, loss control engineers, attorneys and administrators, to design a system and network that provides real time information to employers and insurers.

Regard focuses on productivity and the indirect costs of an employee being off work, such as hiring, training and supervising temporary workers, overtime premiums, missed deadlines, lower morale and at times, even double staffing. Estimates for the impact of indirect versus direct costs range as high as three to one.

The new system was based on research from the Integrated Benefits Institute and designed with input from industry experts and a team of medical and legal professionals provided by Princeton Professional Communication.

Regard's modular structure provides mix-and-match flexibility to meet the workers' compensation needs of today, while working within companies' existing systems frameworks. The system furnishes all the necessary policy and administrative components for an insurer, third-party administrator (TPA) or self-insured company.

Technically, the system features three-tiered client/server architecture and was engineered using fourth-generation language tools. Regard also includes a relational database and uses object-oriented technology. Key modules include Policy Administration, Claims Administration, Marketing Administration, Provider Management, Incident Reporting, Managed Care and Bill Processing.

For more information, contact EDS, 5400 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75024-3199. Telephone: 972-604-6000.