At the 2015 WCI Conference this session addressed how companies use predictive analytics and what they measure to understand if it is successful. The speakers included Scott Rodgers, Executive Vice President Casualty Operations, Sedgwick, George Furlong, Senior Vice President Managed Care Outcomes, Sedgwick, Dr. Marcos Iglesias, M.D., Vice President, Medical Director, The Hartford, and Mark Sidney, Vice President of Claims, Midwest Employers Casualty Company. When we think about Big Data, we think about gathering all the information we can that is available to use for predictive modeling. One of the panelist stated that data in general has three components: volume,
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This session at the WCI 2015 Conference took a look into new strategies for catastrophic injuries from the leading experts in the catastrophic case management. The speakers included Darrel Brown, Executive Vice President, Chief Claims Officer, Sedgwick, Scott Goll, Senior Vice President of Operations, Paradigm Outcomes, and Karen Derrico, Vice President Workers’ Compensation and Critical Care Division, Best Doctors. 1% of all claims are catastrophic claims and they make up 20% of costs. Catastrophic claim frequency is not high but when you see catastrophic claims you know something big happened. Unfortunately no one wins in this type of claims. Characteristics
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At the 2015 WCI Conference this session discussed how to build an engagement model that is sustainable, scalable and measurable. The speaker for this session was Kathy Kukor, Senior Consultant, Risk International Services, Inc. Kathy Kuhor started her session by explaining how to connect the process with the people to improve return-to-work outcomes. The impact of an injury is felt by the company, work team, community, family and employee. The ripple effect of an injury is all encompassing. Do we really want to leave outcome to chance? When creating a return-to-work program at your organization, create a vision and mission
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“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary” –Vince Lombardi At the 2015 WCI Conference this session addressed the issues faced from employees returning to work and to create a successful return-to-work program. . The speakers included Margaret Spence, President/CEO, Douglas Claims & Risk Consultants, Inc, and Rose Royo, Supervisor, Workers Compensation, Miami Dade County Public Schools. Key idea to remember, work smarter not harder. Main focus when creating a return to work program is the employee. The injured worker is an employee not a claimant. Imperative to make sure the employee knows they are vital to
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This session at the 2015 WCI Conference addressed the challenges and opportunities the panelists have been presented as they lead their organization’s risk management teams. The speakers included Michele Adams, Vice President, Risk Management Services, Walt Disney World Resort, Tara Acton, Director-Claims & Senior Corporate Counsel, CenturyLink, Inc and Valerie Franco, Vice President of Risk Management, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Why is it important to highlight women in the workforce? Women are outpacing men and more women are entering the workforce. There are about 25% more women graduating college than men. There are certain traits women tend to have that are
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At the 2015 WCI Conference, risk managers take you behind the scenes in a candid conversation about what they have learned throughout their careers as risk managers. The speakers included David Stills, Vice President, Risk Management, Walmart Stores, Inc, Marc Salm, Vice President, Risk Management, Publix Super Markets, Inc and Michael Fenlon, Senior Director of Global Risk Management, UPS. Lesson 1. Keep your friend close and your actuaries closer It is beneficial to be on the lookout for unintended consequences. Companies will go through time of change, analyze how the company was affected by this change and make note Lesson
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Deborah L. Michael, President, Helmsman Management Services, was the industry keynote speaker at the opening of the 70th Annual Workers Compensation Education Conference. There is a wealth of knowledge here at the conference with over 144 pages of educational breakouts covering a range of information. Deborah discussed the outlook for workers’ compensation, key issues, variability in workers’ compensation and the greatest opportunities for 2015 and beyond. Issues to watch in 2015 include: -prescription drug industry-up 6% in 2014 -excessive use to narcotics and opioids -physician dispensing -compound medication -increased generic drug costs The outlook for workers’ compensation for the future
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Conference Chronicles will be blogging from the IAIABC 101st Convention on August 31 – September 3, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The theme for IAIABC’s 101st Convention is “Big Ideas in the Big City.” The convention program will address big ideas in workers’ compensation, such as the grand bargain, benefit adequacy, exclusive remedy, alternatives to workers’ compensation and more. The event is attended by regulators, administrators, medical directors, claims administrators, medical providers, services providers, government affairs, administrative law judges, insurers, and industry stakeholders. Learn more about this event.

Conference Chronicles will be blogging from the 70th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference on August 23 – 26, 2015 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, health care providers, adjusters, insurance professionals, attorneys, medical case managers, professional employer organizations, temporary staffing, mediators, and agents. Learn more about this event.

At the 2015 Harbor Health MPN Medical Directors Meeting, a panel discussed current issues impacting workers’ compensation. The panel consisted of: Dr. Tedd Blatt (moderator) Dr. Craig Uejo Dr. Don Dinwoodie Dr. Minh Nguyen Dr. Kayvon Yadidi Question: What are the things physicians can do or should do to improve workers’ compensation? Physicians need to assist in training their peers. There is inadequate training of occupational medicine physicians on the nuances of the workers’ compensation system. This is something other stakeholders in the system could also assist with. Physicians need to be considering psycho-social issues in the treatment of patients.
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