Peplowski officially named medical director for California state fund

After serving six months in an interim position, Dr. Bernyce M. Peplowski has been appointed the medical director for the California State Compensation Insurance Fund. The state fund's board of directors confirmed the appointment last month.

"It's truly, truly exciting," Peplowski said. "It feels good in every regard."

Peplowski comes to the state fund having worked as the chief medical officer for Zenith Insurance Co., chief of Occupational Medicine at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems, and regional chief of occupational medicine for southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. She says the nonprofit aspect of one of the state's largest workers' comp insurer makes this latest position especially appealing.

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"From the very highest level to the entry-level employee, the first and highest priority is to provide the injured worker with rapid access to the highest quality care," Peplowski said. "As a result, savings will follow."

Bold moves will be coming, Peplowski says.

In November, Peplowski will be on a panel addressing Prescription Drug Abuse: The Road to Recovery at the National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference® & Expo in Las Vegas. She is credited with helping to craft a policy for physicians in the state fund medical provider network regarding the dispensing of opioids and compound medication for injured workers in accordance with evidence-based medicine and says that will continue to be a focus of her efforts.

"We're doing a refinement of our medical provider network and emphasizing return to function for the injured worker with treatment that is consistent with evidence-based medicine with the goal that the physician and adjuster can practice their 'art' because what we care about is the outcome, not the process," she said. "When outcomes are good, physicians and adjusters can practice their art without interference."

With the goal of providing the highest quality care and best access for injured workers, Peplowski says the state fund is partnering with major medical groups to get their input.

"We have several medical initiatives we're working on and once implemented will result in improved outcomes for our injured employees as well as the employers we serve," she said.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

August 15, 2011

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