In the first part of this series I discussed the research on the impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) on the ability of our Recovering Workers (RW) to actively participate and adhere to their treatment plan post-injury, and the need to begin to [...]
When Should You Use the Services of a Field-based Case Manager? Field-Based Case Management is the process of utilizing a Medical Case Manager to assist the claims professional with assuring appropriate, goal-directed, timely medical treatment and facilitating a consistent, progressive return to work program with the goal of an [...]
WHEN THE RECOVERING WORKER IS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE JOB OF INJURY WITH THE EMPLOYER Even with the finest medical case management, on occasion a recovering worker’s post injury functional capabilities will prevent a return to their job of injury with the employer. When a return to work at [...]
Introduction to your Employee's Alternative Transitional Duty Program When an employee experiences injury, illness, or disability that causes him or her to lose time from work, he or she will likely interact with, at a minimum, medical practitioners and claims administrators. These professionals have their own specialized responsibilities and [...]
Recently, I met two podiatrists that practice in New York and perform workers’ compensation IMEs along with their usual practice. They were down to visit one of my friends and play some golf in Florida. When they found out I worked in the workers’ compensation industry, they verbalized frustration [...]
In 1987, Health Minister Michèle Barzach imposed the liberalization of syringe sales in France. For a long time, the struggle against HIV rested on this political measure alone. In Europe, buprenorphine for the treatment of opiate addiction was first registered in France and by the year 2000 was available [...]
In my December 13, 2019, article on Switzerland’s Approach to the Opioid Epidemic, I detailed the history of the Swiss opioid epidemic and the “Four-Fold” Approach they used to address their epidemic. While the Swiss stressed prevention, they also allowed for a controversial (in the US) Heroin Substitution Program [...]
It is important to determine whether case management software system can meet the needs of your staff and your referral source. • Can it keep track of your case manager's notes and daily activities? • Will my case management software produce an invoice that accurately reflects both the activity [...]
(View of Platz Park during the Open Drug Scene) If you had asked me 5 years ago what we needed to do to help one of our patients to stop misusing opioids, I most likely would have said the best approach is cold turkey, or a quick taper with [...]
Frequent readers of my blog may recall my multiple articles on different aspects of the epidemic as it relates to the workers’ compensation industry, and how CompAlliance has structured their Opioid Protocols as a result. On June 6, 2018, in my article, Opioid Limits on Prescribing – Has the [...]
Today is World Kindness Day. On this day, participants attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organizations. What does that have to do with workers’ compensation? I have attended multiple sessions at [...]
