Lessons from Episodes 5 & 6 of the Risk Performance Podcast
Let’s Heal the Process
Clinic delays, unnecessary treatment, and employees barred from work they’re capable of doing—injury claims start a costly cycle.
In episodes 5 and 6 of Risk Performance, we sit down with Sam Spicer, Safety Manager at IH Caffey Distributing, as he recounts how partnering with Axiom helped his team bounce back quicker after workplace injuries, and Nurse Holly breaks down the model behind their success.
Below, we’ll review key takeaways from these episodes: how fixing the process—rather than managing around it—cuts claims, shortens recovery time, and boosts morale.
1. What’s the Cost of Delayed, Clinic-Driven Care?
“Before Axiom, even minor injuries turned into eight weeks of PT, clinic wait times, and employees benched unnecessarily.”
— Sam Spicer, IH Caffey Distributing
- Long clinic waits: Drivers with strains sat over two hours before being seen.
- One-size-fits-all prescriptions: Generic 8-week PT plans and restrictive duty orders—even for simple back tightness.
- Morale dip: Up to 90% of injured employees were placed on restrictions, creating gaps in routs.
The result? Higher OSHA recordables, escalating claims costs, and employees hesitant to report early aches for fear of being sidelined.
2. Rethinking First-Response with Axiom
“We’re the only ones in the industry doing dual physical and mental-health assessments on every injury.”
— Holly Foxworth, Axiom Medical
IH Caffey partnered with Axiom to shift the entire injury response model upstream—starting with the first call.
Key Changes from Previous Solution:
- 24/7 First-Call Nurse Triage
Injured employees could now connect with nurses immediately—via hotline, portal, or mobile app.
- Comprehensive Approach via Dual Assessments
- Physical: Head-to-toe evaluations by a licensed nurse in the employee’s state.
- Behavioral: Brief K-6 screenings to detect stress, anxiety, or depression that could impact healing.
- Smarter Decision-Making
- Keeping minor injuries at the first-aid level—conservative care, no clinic visit, and no OSHA recordable. With Axiom, approximately 75% of cases remain first-aid.
- High-risk cases are escalated with guided referrals to trusted occupational health providers—avoiding unnecessary ER visits.
- Active Follow-Ups
Nurses check in within 24 hours to confirm adherence to the care plan and monitor progress. Adjustments are made as needed to keep recovery on track.
3. How Did Things Change at IH Caffey?
“Our employees now feel heard. They’re asked real questions and understand their plan before they hang up.”
— Sam Spicer, IH Caffey Distributing
| Metric | Before Axiom | After Axiom |
| Employees on restrictive duty | ~90% of cases | ≈ 30% |
| Return-to-full-duty window | After 8 weeks | 73% back in ≤ 48 hours |
| Employee sentiment | “Clinic fatigue” | “I feel heard and supported” |
4. Why is Axiom’s Model Better?
“When you give our injured drivers an option to receive quick, personalized care that’s going to get them back to doing their job, they love it.”
— Sam Spicer, IH Caffey Distributing
Axiom reduced restrictive duty cases and successfully returned 73% of injured employees to work in just 48 hours by leveraging:
- Upstream Intervention
Acting within the first hour prevents escalation and reduces treatment intensity. - Whole-Person Care
Addressing both physical and behavioral health drives faster, more complete recoveries. - Aligned Incentives
Axiom doesn’t own clinics or PT centers—so recommendations are made in the employee’s best interest, not for billing volume. - Actionable Data
Real-time reports keep HR, Safety, and Risk aligned, uncovering trends and gaps before they become claims.
5. How to Apply IH Caffey’s Success to Your Workforce?
“More than anything, we strive to make sure injured employees get the appropriate level of care.”
— Holly Foxworth, Axiom Medical
- Stop chasing symptoms. Redesign your first-response workflow around a nurse-led model.
- Measure what matters. Track time to report, first-aid vs. recordable ratio, and return-to-work speed.
- Include mental health. Unaddressed stress and burnout slow healing and drive repeat incidents.
- Pick partners, not vendors. Choose a care model that aligns with your goals—not one driven by clinic quotas.
🎧 Listen & Learn More
- Episode 5: The 8-Month Journey — Sam Spicer, Safety Manager at IH Caffey Distributing, shares his results-driven story.
- Episode 6: Behind the System — Nurse Holly breaks down Axiom’s nurse-led approach.
Ready to Rebuild Your Injury Response?
If you’re tired of managing around broken systems, let’s change the outcome. Axiom Medical has helped employers reduce recordables and protect their people for over 25 years—across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Cain Boney is a contributor to Axiom Medical’s blog. With a career dedicated to writing about the workplace, Cain focuses on how employee well-being affects organizational success and sustainability in the long term.