| 2022 WIWC Forum Session Presentations | |
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| Is Your Employee Fit for Duty? The Use of Fitness for Duty Evaluations to Determine an Employee’s Capability to Perform Their Job This panel of experts will discuss how and when to use a fitness for duty evaluation to protect employees from injury and employers from potential liability. They will detail what a fitness for duty evaluation addresses, what type of testing is performed, potential red flags that could trigger the need for an evaluation, and how the evaluations can be used to determine whether an employee can return to work safely. Fitness for Duty Presentation |
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| ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation: Navigating the Bermuda Triangle and Coming Out Alive When it comes to navigating “the Bermuda Triangle” of employment law, the place where the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and workers’ compensation intersect and/or overlap can be confusing and challenging for employers. This presentation will help guide you through this intersecting world and provide tips for how to handle situations where the laws may conflict. ADA FMLA and Work Comp Presentation |
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| Evidence Based Pain Management and Red Flags in Treating the Injured Worker Dr. Aasen will review evidence-based medicine guidelines in pain management. You will learn how early and appropriate treatment based on the evidence will return the individual to the workplace. You will also learn what red flags to look for within the injured worker and the treatment plan. Specific treatment discussed will include radiofrequency ablation for lumbar and cervical pain and epidural steroid injections. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome will also be reviewed as a common diagnosis in worker’s compensation. Evidence Based Pain Management Presentation |
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| Case Law and Legislative Update Attorney Paul Riegel will provide an update on recent case law affecting our workers compensation system and current legislative proposals. Additionally, learn what impact the recent statutory changes have on our system. Case Law Update Presentation |
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| Handling “Extreme” Medical Opinions – Insights and Tips Encountering medical opinions that appear to be “extreme” seems to be becoming more common in our system. These can range from significant PPD or work restrictions following what appears to be a minor injury to opinions of no PPD or work restrictions for what appear to be significant injuries. This panel of experts will discuss scenarios with widely varying medical opinions and strategies for evaluating and valuing such cases. Forum Extreme Medical Opinions Case Study |
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| The Future of Spinal Fusion Procedures Dr. Hsu will discuss the advancements in manufacturing and how basic science led to significant improvements in technology to help surgeons and patients during a spinal fusion. He will summarize these recent developments and provide a sneak-peek into the future of spine fusion procedures. He will provide an overview of revolutionary new treatments in spine surgery with the use of 3D printing and orthobiologic implants along with expected recovery periods to assist in adjudication of claims. Spinal Fusion Presentation |
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| An Exploration of Orthopedic Trauma in Worker’s Compensation Dr. Barinaga will explore trauma techniques and controversies, with guidance from evidence-based medicine. He will navigate a complicated crush injury and provide perspectives on evaluating issues including end of healing, appropriate work restrictions, and permanent disability ratings. The doctor will also discuss amputation, phantom limb syndrome, and CRPS. Bring your questions to this unique and interesting topic! Orthopedic Trauma Presentation |
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