Health/medical management track features prestigious roster of physicians

Pain management, medical networks, and unnecessary treatments are among the issues targeted in the Health/Medical Management track.

The sessions include:

Pain Forensics: Finding Missed Opportunities for Positive Outcomes. The speakers are:

Dr. Fernando Branco, medical director of the Rosomoff Comprehensive Pain Center.
Dr. Steven Moskowitz, senior medical director of Paradigm Management Services.

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Chronic pain claims can be a nightmare to manage. Two medical specialists will deconstruct a workers' comp pain case to identify ways these claims can be best managed to avoid poor outcomes.

Breaking the Web of Needless Disability.

The speaker is Robert Aurbach, CEO of Uncommon Approach Inc., the editor of the Journal of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, and the former general counsel of the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration.

There is a scientific reason that some claims turn into permanent disability cases. Mr. Aurbach will discuss the acquisition of learned disability behavior based on neuroscience and an intervention to prevent needless disability.

Building a Better Medical Network. The speakers are:

Monica Lichtenstein, director of claims operations for Aramark.
Patrick Venditti, director of BJC Corporate Health Services for BJC HealthCare.
Anita Weir, director of medical and disability management for Safeway.
Moderator: Mark Walls, vice president of claims for Safety National and manager of the Work Comp Analysis group on LinkedIn.

Increasingly employers are finding that a focus on quality medical care leads to better outcomes. The speakers will share how they ramped up their medical networks, including the pitfalls to avoid.

60 Medical Management Tips in 60 Minutes. The panelists are:

Dr. Fernando Branco, medical director of the Rosomoff Comprehensive Pain Center.
Dr. David Cooper, director of The Knee Center.
Dr. Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, president/owner of SpineCare & Forensic Medicine.
Dr. Steven Feinberg, chief medical officer of American Pain Solutions.
Dr. Steven Moskowitz, senior medical director of Paradigm Management Services.
Dr. Kathryn Mueller, medical director of the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation.
Moderator: Matthew B. Schiff, partner with Schiff & Hulbert.

The esteemed panel of physicians will provide 60 of their best tips for addressing the needs of injured workers while holding down workers' comp costs.

MRIs and Knee Replacements: Two Easy Targets to Cut Medical Costs. The speakers are:

Dr. David Cooper, director of The Knee Center.
James Pocius, a shareholder with Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin.

An ultrasound can provide the same information about a knee or shoulder injury as a much more expensive MRI can, says Dr. Cooper. He will do a live demonstration while attorney Pocius will provide legal strategies.

Attendant Care, Vans and Home Mods ... Oh My! The speakers are:

Sherri Hickey, director of medical management for Safety National.
Corey Staver, president and CEO of David Corey Company.

High-cost issues can nearly wipe out a company's claims management process. Claims managers and adjusters will find out how to proceed when durable medical equipment, home modifications, and other such issues enter the picture.

Why and When Back Surgery Isn't the Best Option.

The speaker is Dr. Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, president/owner of SpineCare & Forensic Medicine.

Many employers are needlessly paying for lumbar fusions for low back pain even though there is little medical evidence of their effectiveness. The speaker will discuss how to identify patients most or least likely to benefit from the treatment and other options that are available.

Think Tank on Medical Management.

The facilitator is Dr. Gary Franklin, medical director of the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

This open forum will allow attendees to discuss strategies to prevent disability and control rising medical costs in the workers' comp system.

Lessons From California: HCOs and MPNs as Medical Management Models. The speakers are:

Donald P. Balzano, president of the Industrial Resolution Coalition, and chief legal counsel for Medex Healthcare.
Joel Sherman, director of safety and workers' compensation for Grimmway Farms.

Health care organizations and medical provider networks are California-based medical case management strategies, although other jurisdictions can use aspects of them. The speakers will discuss what these methods are and how they can help employers cut costs.

Cost-Effective Interventions for Psychosocial Risk Factors. The speakers are:

Darrell Bruga, a doctor of chiropractic and the CEO of LifeTEAM Health.
Dr. Marianne Cloeren, medical director of Managed Care Advisors.

Addressing psychosocial factors to prevent or reduce disability severity is crucial to achieving best outcomes. The speakers will outline a structured, systematic approach using evidence-based solutions.

The 21st annual National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference® & Expo takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 7-9. The conference is produced by LRP Publications.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

August 6, 2012

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