Medicinal marijuana is expanding rapidly and recreational marijuana is making a serious, and perhaps inevitable, run at being legal. So where do we stand from a medical perspective? In this session at WCI’s 2016 Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, Donald Bucklin, MD, Medical Review Officer at U.S. Healthworks, provided a marijuana status update. There are 483 chemicals in marijuana, 84 are cannabinoids including THC and 50+ are known carcinogens. THC has to be dried or burned to be active. Today’s marijuana (21%) is far more potent than that used by a generation ago (3%). Marijuana has been illegal for 85 years.
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This 2016 WCI session’s presenter was Freddie Kaye, PhD, LD, a nationally known clinical nutritionist. For more than 35 years, Dr. Kaye has taught physicians diet therapy and counselled “health challenged” people who are overweight and suffer from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and have elevated lipids and  has helped people whose problems are related to their lifestyle, behavior and habits. Dr. Kay said 70% of the population is overweight. Being overweight or obese contributes to developing Type 2 diabetes, various types of cancers and many other health issues. Most popular diet plans focus on the short-term and just don’t work.
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Workers’ compensation professionals are challenged to manage claims from employees with a variety of backgrounds, skills, abilities and demographics. This session at WCI’s 2016 Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference discussed the challenges and opportunities that a diversified workforce creates in workers’ compensation claims management. Speakers included: – Michele Adams, Vice President, Risk Management Services, Walt Disney World Resort – Max Koonce, Senior Vice President – Client Services, Sedgwick Claims Management Services – Loyd A. Hudson, Integrated Disability Manager, American Electric Power Company The workforce continues to evolve and diversify with an increase in older workers delaying retirement, work forces becoming more
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As the medical costs of workers’ compensation claims have risen sharply in recent years, the importance of understanding the role surgery plays in a claim has grown. This session at WCI’s 2016 Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference discussed various delays and pitfalls related to surgeries in workers’ compensation. Speakers included: – Cheryl Gulasa, Vice President, AmeriSys – Dr. Steven Weber, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Orlando Orthopedic Center – Michael Costello, Regional Director, Tenet Healthcare – David Anderson, Vice President of Operations, Orchid Medical Continuum of Care Because you are working with various stakeholders, there is a big barrier to getting surgery
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Industry keynote speaker, Vincent T. Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer at PMA Companies, kicked off WCI’s 2016 Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference with an update on the workers’ compensation industry. The workers’ compensation industry has been around for 100 years and continues to evolve. The industry has had to adapt with a changing landscape that includes vastly different types of jobs today than when the system was originally created, expanded life expectancy, advances in healthcare and drastic regulatory changes. Overall, Donnelly says that the industry has kept up with these challenges and continues to have a positive impact on workers.
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Conference Chronicles will be blogging from the 71st Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference on August 21-24, 2016, in Orlando, Florida. This event, hosted by the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI), brings together workers’ compensation professionals from across the country to discuss the hottest issues in workers’ compensation and safety. The event features breakout sessions for risk managers, regulators, safety professionals, healthcare providers, adjusters, insurance professionals, attorneys, medical case managers, professional employer organizations, temporary staffing, mediators, and agents. Learn more about this event.

At the 2016 SAWCA Annual Conference, a panel discussed a variety of issues associated with medical marijuana. The panel was: Dr. Robert Howell – Georgia GHSE Eric Haines – Chief Deputy – Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Michael Minardi – Chairman – Regulate Florida Reggie Garcia – United for Care Tom Glasson – Government Affairs Officer – AIG Paul Tauriello – Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation Recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado for 3 years now. Last year the marijuana industry in Colorado generated $996 million in revenue. This resulted in around $200 million in tax revenues for the state.
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At the SAWCA Annual Conference, a panel discussed delays in the workers’ compensation system. The panel was: Shannon Bruno Bishop – Administrative Law Judge, State of Louisiana William Underwood – Attorney – Albany, GA Ryan Brannan – Commissioner – Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation David Havlicek – Attorney – Orlando, FL Frank McKay – Chair – Georgia Workers’ Compensation Board Medical On the medical side, there are frequently delays in areas such as changing treating physicians and major surgeries. However, delays are also seen in authorizing more basic treatment such as physical therapy. There are not usually
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At the 2016 SAWCA Annual Conference, Tearsanne Carlisle Davis from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Center for Telehealth, discussed how they are using telehealth to enhance care for patients.  She started by saying they do NOT provide telehealth for workers’ compensation because of the complexities associated with that.  Telehealth lets doctors examine and treat patients remotely, in real time, using online streaming video technology and interactive tools. Telehealth is important in Mississipppi because 53 of the state’s 82 counties are more than a 40 minute drive from specialty care. Telehealth is useful as it : Is designed to provide
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At the 2016 SAWCA Annual Conference, Dr Sharon Heise, Associate Director of the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) provided a preview of the coming age of robotics. Sensory assistance is one area where technology can be very useful in workers’ compensation. Traumatic injury can lead to sensory loss. Much of their so work is with people injured in the military. One area of emphasis is with vision loss. People who lost their vision can now “see” using digital images that are transmitted to a sensor on their tongue. Their brain learns to interpret the sensations on their tongue
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