In workers’ compensation, not all referrals are created equal. Some cases demand immediate intervention—where hours matter, clarity is scarce, and delays come with steep costs. These are Rush assignments: the high-stakes, time-sensitive cases where leadership, not just logistics, makes all the difference.
While many nurse case management providers are unable to accept Rush assignments, those who do treat them as exceptions—often scrambling to locate available contractors—ISYS treats them as core to our identity. We’ve built our infrastructure, trained our case managers, and designed our workflows to thrive in these critical moments when acting with urgency matters.
The Cost of Hesitation
When a Rush referral is mishandled, the consequences ripple quickly. Injured workers may go days without medical guidance. Employers face operational uncertainty. Claims handlers lose momentum, and physicians may operate without critical information or care coordination.
- Even a 48-hour delay can translate into:
- Lost treatment windows
- Escalated medical complexity
- Increased legal exposure
- Prolonged claim duration
- Missed opportunities to identify potential barriers
What’s often overlooked is that Rush files are disproportionately impactful—both in their cost potential and their reputational risk. These are the moments where your claim strategy either proves its strength or exposes its weakest link.
Why Most Models Fall Short
Traditional case management vendor models often rely on panels of 1099 contractors. While sufficient for routine cases, they struggle under urgent demand. Contractor Case Managers are more difficult to deploy, often unavailable, unwilling, or unaware of the clinical and administrative urgency required. The result? A service gap at the worst possible time.
In contrast, ISYS employs direct-hire, full-time, locally field-based case managers who are trained to prioritize, escalate, and lead during Rush situations. Because we don’t just find “a case manager who’s available”, we activate professionals who are already embedded in our performance culture and trained to respond to the needs of the case with urgency.
A Culture of Readiness
At ISYS, Rush isn’t a side category—it’s a call to leadership. Our case managers don’t avoid urgency; they rise to it. That’s because we’ve cultivated a culture where responding to Rush assignments is viewed as a point of pride and professional impact.
Through dedicated training, performance recognition, and internal incentives, our nurses understand that Rush files are not just critical to outcomes, they’re defining moments for our brand and our purpose. They know that when they step in quickly, coordinate care efficiently, and communicate clearly, they’re shaping the trajectory of someone’s life and likely preventing other barriers from developing down line.
From Reactive to Proactive
Leading in Rush assignments is more than just faster email replies and quicker case management deployments; it’s about clinical foresight. It’s about anticipating complications, securing urgent authorizations, preparing for provider scarcity, and communicating in a way that instills confidence in all stakeholders. Our case managers don’t just manage; they stabilize, direct, and advocate in time-sensitive and critical situations.
Some Files Can’t Wait. Neither Can You.
When a work injury needs a real time response, the margin for error disappears. You need a partner that’s not only responsive but built to lead in these moments. ISYS doesn’t just check the box, we set the standard.
Because in the moments that matter most, urgency isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a responsibility to own.
No responses yet