Causation of Occupational Injuries: Fact or Fiction
The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Monday, July 19, 2010
Continuing Education Information
Schedule
Hotel Information
Registration Information
Brochure
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Executive Summary: This unique preconference is for anyone who is involved with workers’ compensation and occupational health. Every new workers’ compensation case involves the determination of causation. The evidence based science of causation has been difficult to assembly. This course will bring together the science of causation, the law, and the daily application of both. This course is based on the AMA Press book entitled “Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation” edited by Melhorn and Ackerman.
Learning Objectives: Attendees will understand the basis for causation and the key legal issues; review specific diagnoses; and work with case examples. The learning approach is interactive and the attendees will be provided with checklists and participate in hands-on exercises.
At the completion of this workshop you will learn:
• Work-relatedness.
• Definitions for causation: medical and legal.
• How to review the physical examination.
• Understand apportionment.
• Be able to prepare the written report.
• Be able to evaluated the written report.
• Understand specific diagnoses.
Faculty: J. Mark Melhorn, MD, FAAOS, FAADEP, FACS, is an occupational orthopaedic physician that specializes in the hands and upper extremities. He received his BS from McPherson College and his MD from the University of Kansas. Dr. Melhorn is board certified in orthopedic surgery with added qualifications in surgery of the hand. In addition to his practice of orthopaedics at The Hand Center in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Melhorn is a Clinical Assistant Professor, Section of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita. He has authored over 350 articles, chapters, and publications about his research of workplace injuries and illnesses; return to work options; impairment and disability; and prevention of musculoskeletal pain in the workplace. He has lectured extensively to physicians, employers, insurers, administrators, and legislators on industrial musculoskeletal, upper extremity disorders, and prevention of musculoskeletal pain (MSDs) in the workplace.
He is currently the program director for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons continuing education course on “Occupational Orthopaedics and Workers’ Compensation: A Multidisciplinary Perspective” and for the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians on “Annual Scientific Meeting,” serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, the Committee for Occupational Health for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Industrial Injuries and Prevention Committee for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Return to Work Committee and the Evidence Based Practice Committee for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, lead contributor section of Upper Extremities for the American Medical Association’s 6th Edition of Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and 5th edition chapter reviewer, co-section editor for musculoskeletal area of the Medical Advisory Board for Medical Disability Advisor - Disability Duration Guidelines and the Official Disabilities Guidelines (ODG) of the Work Loss Data Institute, Editorial Board of APG Insights Newsletter (designed as supplement, interpretation and application of the ACOEM Clinical Practice Guidelines), previous member of the Ergonomic Committee for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, past president of the Kansas Orthopedic Society, Continuing Medical Education committee for AAOS, a Musculoskeletal Chapter Reviewer for the American Medical Association’s 5th Edition of Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, and previous faculty for continuing education courses by SEAK and American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. Dr. Melhorn is the co-editor of the text “A Physicians’ Guide to Return to Work” AMA Press (2005), Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation AMA Press (2007) and is the lead author for the Upper Extremity Chapter in the 6th Edition of the AMA Guides to Impairment.
Continuing Education Credits
Case Managers: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education for Case Managers have been applied for from the Commission for Case Manager Certification, St. Paul Minnesota. Disability Specialists: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education for Disability Specialists have been applied for from the Commission for Disability Management Specialists Commission, Schaumburg, Illinois. Human Resource: This program has been approved for 7.0 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Nurses: To successfully complete a program and receive contact hours you must: 1) register in, 2) be present for the period of time you are awarded contact hours, 3) complete the evaluation. Occupational Health Nurses: 7.0 Contact hours for continuing education in nursing have been applied for the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc (AAOHN). AAOHN is an accredited approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (ANCC is the educational department under the ANA). Physical Therapists: Continuing Physical Therapy credits vary by state, and will only be applied for if requested in writing on the conference registration form. Physicians: SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Rehabilitation Counselors: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education hours for Rehabilitation Counselors have been applied for from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, Schaumburg, Illinois. Rehabilitation Nurses: This program will be accepted for 7.0 contact hours of credit for ARN certification. Submit certificate.
SCHEDULE
7:00–8:00 Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibits
8:00–9:00 Introduction and Background
Attendees will learn how to determine work-relatedness based on medical and legal definitions. The science of causation associations will be discussed. Questions & Answers.
9:00–10:00 Methodology, Apportionment, History, Physical Examination,
and Record Review
The medical record will be reviewed for what should be included to allow for a determination of causation in a specific case. In other words, how you take the history, objective findings, job description, and science to then apply the information to a specific individual. Questions & Answers.
10:00–10:15 Break, Exhibits & Networking Opportunity
10:15–11:00 Writing the Report
Expanding on the previous hour, the medical record should now reflect a clear statement regarding causation and appropriate treatments. Questions & Answers.
11:00–12:00 Spine Examples
Specific cases will be discussed. Questions & Answers.
12:00–1:00 Lunch provided with faculty
1:00–2:00 Lower Limb Examples
Specific cases will be discussed. Questions & Answers.
2:00–3:00 Upper Limb Examples
Specific cases will be discussed. Questions & Answers.
3:00–3:15 Break, Exhibits & Networking Opportunity
3:15–4:00 Cardiac and Pulmonary Case Examples
Specific cases will be discussed. Questions & Answers.
4:00–4:30 Your cases
Attendees encouraged to bring their difficult cases for group discussion and review using the approaches discussed in “How to Approach Causation Issues.” Questions & Answers.
4:30–4:45 Summary, questions and evaluation
Hotel Information
Site Hotel - The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. A limited block of rooms has been reserved at convention rates ($210 + tax) at the site hotel (The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis). These rooms will be assigned on a first request basis. To reserve your room, please call 866-828-9111 and mention the SEAK/Workers’ Compensation Conference. The resort is surrounded by 52 totally private acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and offers an 18-hole par 54 golf course, a private patio or balcony for the 232 guest rooms, a complete fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a whirlpool, a complete spa, and free parking. The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis is conveniently located within walking distance of Main Street with its many shops and restaurants. Public beaches and the ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are minutes from the hotel.
Alternative Lodging
As a tourist destination, the Hyannis area has numerous alternative lodging options for different tastes and budgets. We have reserved a block of overflow rooms at The Holiday Inn Hyannis at a discounted rate ($189 single/double). To make your reservations, please call (508) 775-1153 and identify yourselves as being with SEAK, Inc. or book online at www.holidayinn.com/hyannisma and Enter Group Code: SEK. During the conference, SEAK, Inc. will provide free regularly scheduled shuttle bus service between The Holiday Inn Hyannis and The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. The Holiday Inn Hyannis is approximately 3 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis and is located nearby the Cape Cod Mall and several restaurants. The Holiday Inn Hyannis was recently renovated and features an indoor pool, restaurant, modern gym and free hi-speed internet access. If you prefer a hotel on the harbor and within walking distance of downtown/waterfront restaurants, we suggest the Anchor In (www.anchorin.com), which is 2 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. For a good value, we suggest the Sea Coast Inn (www.seacoastcapecod.com) which is within healthy walking distance of the site hotel and easy walking distance of main street and the Hyannis docks. For a small motel directly across from Craigville Beach, we suggest the Ocean View on Craigville Beach (www.capecodoceanviewmotel.com) If you are coming with your family or colleagues and prefer a suite or townhouse with kitchenette, we suggest the Red Jacket Green Harbor Resort, which is located directly on Lewis Bay, 3 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. If you would like to stay at an oceanfront beach resort with a private beach, jet ski rentals, etc., we suggest the Red Jacket Beach Resort (www.redjacketresorts.com). The Red Jacket Beach Resort is 6 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but please note that traffic can be heavy in the afternoons coming back from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis.
Getting to Hyannis
The two major airports closest to Cape Cod are Logan International Airport in Boston, MA (70 miles) and T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island (80 miles). Barnstable Airport is a five minute drive from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but this is a commuter airport that has smaller planes and fewer flights. T.F. Green is preferred over Logan (if you are able to get a direct flight) as it is usually less congested. Rental cars, taxis and car service are available at all three airports. If you are on a tight budget or prefer not to drive, Plymouth & Brockton runs bus service between Logan Airport and Hyannis (www.p-b.com).
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a true destination spot that features beautiful beaches, warm water, great restaurants, historic towns, sightseeing, kayaking, whale watching, museums, numerous bike trails, shopping, nightlife, championship golf, and world famous boating. Cape Cod is also gateway to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. For more information on what to do on Cape Cod, please visit www.capecod.com.