RAND Corp. published its review of the (1) Technical Quality and (2) Clinical Acceptance of the Occupational Disability Guidelines (ODG) published by Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI). This paper briefly discusses the RAND report. Who Is Work Loss Data Institute...
First Comprehensive Study Evaluating EBM Guidelines in Comp Setting In recent years within the workers’ compensation (WC) arena, proponents of evidence-based medicine (EBM) have contended that managing an injured worker’s care according to established...
No material mistake of fact exists when IMR reviewer fails to list the actual reports and records reviewed by the IMR physician In Hacker v. County of San Bernardino-Public Health Department , 2015 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS --, the WCAB, in a split panel opinion...
Greater medical consensus could reduce geographic variability A recent study published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that there is geographic variation in the use of medical treatment guidelines that reaches beyond differences...
According to the Department of Industrial Relations Director Christine Baker, “ opioid misuse is a national concern ”. As a result of this “misuse”, the Division of Workers’ Compensation recently posted proposed “ Guidelines...
Recent noteworthy panel decisions show that the applicant would be wise to present all relevant medical reports and records, and citations to the MTUS, ACOEM, ODG, or other nationally accepted medical standards to the IMR reviewer, and that when a material mistake...
By Robert G. Rassp, Esq. The current trend across the country is to require evidence-based medicine for treatment of employees who are injured on the job. Statutory and regulatory mandates are emerging on a state-by-state basis. Stakeholders within the workers’...