Irvine, CA – Identifying the best doctors to treat workers’ compensation patients, updates on legislation impacting physician networks, and tools for doctors to better manage these cases were presented at the 2014 Harbor Health Systems’ Medical Director Meeting. Harbor Health Systems, a One Call Care Management company, hosted the conference in Laguna Beach, California on July 30th.
“We are truly at a tipping point in transforming care for injured workers by improving outcomes, lowering costs and getting these employees back to work quickly,” said Gregory Moore, M.P.H., President and CEO of Harbor Health Systems. “We have the technology to measure case outcomes by physician, the ability to get injured workers to see these physicians quickly, and the systems to keep the care plan on track for a fast and safe recovery. Regulatory initiatives like CA SB863 make it possible for employers to use these high-performing physicians without the burdens of compliance and administration.”
Analysis of Harbor’s data over a five year period shows that physicians who have high scores in producing superior outcomes also reduce medical costs by an average of 20 percent. Previous studies have shown that treatment by these physicians also shortens the duration of the claim, and reduces indemnity costs.
Attended by nearly 100 medical directors, physicians, and workers’ compensation experts and executives, the conference fostered discussion on topics such as what qualities make a high-performing physician, what tools will support physicians to be better overall managers of workers’ compensation cases, and how the increase in obesity and co-morbid factors is changing care management and treatment.
Speakers from this event included:
- Teresa Bartlett, M.D., Senior Vice President Medical Quality, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- Theodore Blatt, M.D., FAAOS , Medical Director, Harbor Health Systems
- Mary Jane DeMill, Occupational Orthopedic Medical Group
- Jeff Flanegin, Senior Vice President Sales, East Division, One Call Care Management
- George Furlong, Senior Vice President Managed Care Program Outcomes Analysis, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- Kevin Glennon, Vice President of Clinical Education & Quality Assurance Programs, One Call Care Management
- Lori Kammerer, Legislative Advocate and Workers’ Compensation and Health Policy Director, Kammerer & Company
- Yvonne Lavadores, Work Comp Team Manager, Disney Parks and Resorts
- Michael Meng, Apax Partners
- Gregory Moore, M.P.H., President and CEO, Harbor Health Systems
- Leo E. Nacelli, Jr., B.S., Vice President, Product Design, Harbor Health Systems
- Bernyce Peplowski, M.D., Medical Director, US HealthWorks
- Terri Riley, Senior Vice President Managed Care Practices and Client Services, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- Kent Spafford, Board of Directors Advisor, One Call Care Management
- Kayvon Yadidi, M.D., Medical Director, Proactive Work Health Services
The event was co-sponsored by Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. Videos of the talks will be available online after the event.
Source: Harbor Health Systems