We have spent, over the last couple decades, an inordinate amount of time, resources, money, energy and effort “sensitizing” the American employer, ostensibly to improve the workplace experience and enhance productivity in this country. We have seminars, motivational speakers, sensitivity training, books, blogs, audio programs, online courses and more, all designed to make today's modern…
Is AMA Declaration on Obesity a Big Fat Problem for Workers' Comp?
I am apparently sick. Gravely ill; in need of medical treatment, which will no doubt involve multiple co-pays, lab visits, and a multitude of new prescriptions. My disease? Hi. My name is Bob Wilson, and I am an obese man. (I will pause while you all say “Hiiiii Bob”) Yesterday the American Medical Association…
Malware Bytes
Spammers and malware propagators are the bane of an internet professionals' existence. While most are familiar with spam and its related effects, you may not be as familiar with malware and its potential threats. Malware, quite simply, is software designed to do bad things. It can be so evil as to infect your computer, delete…
Workers’ Compensation Should Be Called Workers’ Recovery
Words mean things. They are a fundamental tool in our communication arsenal. From words we derive substance. From words we determine intent. From words we calculate and assess. From words we set our ultimate expectations. And while this may sound funny coming from me, we should be careful with the words we use, particularly when…
Florida Deploys Unique Fraud Fighting Database
I did a CompTalk Radio interview several years back with a gentleman who at the time was the chief workers' compensation fraud investigator for the State of Florida. In that discussion he told me that fraud in the state ran about “50/50” between employers and employees, but “without a doubt, the really big money in…
The User Guide for Loss of Consortium Claims
Leave it to our government. Not only are they compiling records of all our phone calls, political leanings, internet searches, personal sanitation practices, frequent flyer miles and recycling habits, but now we know that when a claim is filed for loss of consortium, they want to know that too. At least that is the case…
Puttin' On The Ritz Cracker
I am a believer in Karma, that ancient Indian arbiter of cause and effect. It is a well established protocol that tells us our actions and activity often determine our future and our fate. Nowhere was its influence more evident than my recent trip to Denver. Joe Paduda published a post Wednesday in his blog…
SIIA Shows Choosing the Right Doctor is the Best Prescription
The Workers' Compensation Executive Forum conducted in St. Louis last week by the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA), was a vast improvement from the prior year's San Antonio event. Medical treatment and cost was a priority topic, and information related to managing this growing area of concern seemed to dominate the agenda. One of the…
Multitasking Sex in New Mexico Ends in Premature Ejection
I am supposed to be writing today about the Workers' Compensation Executive Forum conducted in St. Louis last week by the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA). It provided very insightful information along a number of tracks, most notably the area concerned with managing medical within claims. I should be writing about that. Unfortunately, while…
My Top 10 Causes of General Befuddlement and Bewilderment
I was flying to St. Louis to attend the SIIA Workers’ Compensation Executive Forum, and as so often seems to be the case, struck up a pre-flight conversation with several seat mates on the plane. It started with questions regarding the flight attendant safety speech, when I openly wondered whether there was anybody left on…