Well, the first day of DRI's 2nd annual WC Nat'l Review is drawing to a close. Heading back to the convention complex to catch Eddie Money in concert following the conference provided buffet dinner. Day 1 was a resounding success.
Craig Young, the seminar subcommittee chair, led off with a welcome to Orlando for attendees, and George Kagan, the WC committee chair filled in the blanks. The DRI seminar drew attendees from across the nation, emphasizing DRI & the Workers' Compensation Educational Committee's (WCEC; the DRI conference is partnered with them) theme that this ain't just for Florida folks anymore.
The opening segment featured "avoiding catastrophic claims from minor injuries." It was well attended and very thought provoking due in large part to the evidence based approach to medicine advocated by Drs. Nguyen and Randolph. Key to their presentation was an explanation of the Bradford-Hill Criteria for medical treatment, applying scientific principles to medicine. The attorneys on the panel, Bob Erlandson, Steve Habash, and Cristine Huffine translated the medical theory and evidence-based approach into practical application opportunities.
In the second segment, neuropsych Robert Barth, Ph.D. provided a fast hitting but informative list of 10 fundamental rules for attacking psychological claims. Dr. Barth also shared a website, www.asnr.org nomenclature, that defense counsel can use to decipher medical lingo on MRI & CT/myleogram reports. He shared the segment with attorney Susan Briggs, who counseled on the different approaches she's employed in defending psychological claims.
The last segment of the day was the industry panel, featuring attorney JC Roper along with Robert Johnson (McDonald's Corp) and Randy Fort (Meadowbrook). Many national topics were covered, stretching from incentivized return to work programs to developing and maintaining your defense practice, all with consideration of these trying economic times.
Time for dinner and some dancing.
