These statistics highlight a sobering reality: traditional stepped care and “more care” approaches often fail to deliver better outcomes than usual care. Too often, systems default to unnecessary investigations, advanced imaging, or fee-for-service models that drive costs without improving recovery.
What patients need is not more care, but better care—care that is personalised, coordinated, and focused on helping people return to meaningful work and life.
The Case for Matched Care
Matched care represents a paradigm shift. Instead of treating all patients the same, it stratifies risk early using validated tools like the Örebro Screening Questionnaire. This allows clinicians to identify who is at high risk of poor recovery and then, in consultation with the patient, tailor and personalise a rehabilitation program.
The results are striking: matched care can deliver return-to-work outcomes twice as fast and at half the cost compared to usual care.
- Personalised – addressing the unique needs of each patient.
- Coordinated – ensuring communication across providers.
- Work-focused – helping patients re-engage with activity and employment.
But patients won’t always intuitively choose matched care options. Patients with musculoskeletal injuries don’t often see the need for early psychologically-informed care.
“When I was first offered this program I was extremely hesitant, I simply believed I could not be helped. It took a bit of pushing for myself to come around but now I am so glad I did. The psychologist helped me in more ways than I can express and I am so grateful for the support I have received.
Although I still have a long way to go, psychologist helped me set out a clear vision of my goals, how to work towards them, and how to be kinder to myself through the process.”
Translating Matched Care into Practice
Early Screening & Risk Stratification
Use validated tools (e.g., Örebro) at the point of claim or first consultation to identify patients at risk of delayed recovery.
Tailored Pathways
Develop clear pathways for low-risk and high-risk patients.
- Low risk: Telehealth advice, reassurance, and community physio support.
- High risk: Psychologically informed care, stress inoculation training, and coordinated specialist input.
Collaborative Communication
Ensure GPs, physiotherapists, psychologists, and claims managers share information seamlessly. Patients should feel supported by a team, not shuffled between silos.
Work-Focused Rehabilitation
Embed return-to-work goals into care plans. Recovery is not just about symptom reduction—it’s about restoring participation and identity.
Guideline Integration
Translate research into practical guidelines that clinicians can apply consistently. This reduces variability and ensures evidence-based care is the default.
System Partnerships
Work with regulators, insurers, and providers to embed matched care into funding models and claims processes. Without systemic support, matched care risks remaining a pilot rather than the standard.
By embedding these practices, matched care becomes more than a concept—it becomes a lived reality for patients navigating injury and disability.
A Call to Action
Stepped-failed care is a flawed approach. Stratified care alone does not outperform usual care. Matched care, however, offers a better way forward.
To make this vision a reality, we must:
- Work with regulators and legislators to embed matched care into systems.
- Partner with trusted providers and researchers to build tailored programs.
- Champion early, active support for injured Australians.
Because in a time of great distress, injured Australians need guidance, support, and encouragement to find evidence-based care that is matched to their specific needs.
