Breakout
for Adjusters
Program One
8:45 – 9:45 am
Is it a Pain in the Neck?
Introduction:
Karen
Ursulich
Orlando Orthopaedic Center
Orlando, FL
Panel:
Common
Injuries of the Cervical Spine
G. Grady McBride, MD
Orlando Orthopaedic Center
Orlando, FL
Common Cases of Injuries to the Upper Extremity: Shoulder Impingement & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Lawrence S. Halperin, MD
Orlando Orthopaedic Center
Orlando, FL
Are symptoms a true pain in the neck? Understanding all the medical terms and the difference between symptoms is the key. The Orlando Orthopaedic Center physicians will be discussing the most common misconceptions about cervical and upper extremity pain. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask the physicians questions during the presentation. Join Dr. McBride and Dr. Halperin for a practical straightforward program designed to make your job easier.
10:00 – 11:00 am
The Aguilera Decision: What Does It
Really Mean
Moderator:
Jean
T. Feldman, RN, BSN, MSCC
Senior Vice President of Care
Management Operations
CHOICE Medical Management Services
Tampa, FL
Panel:
Joan
M. Bruyntjens
Director of Workers’
Compensation Claims
FCCI Insurance Group
Sarasota, FL
Jodi J. Jaffe, Attorney
McConnaughhay,
Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver, P.A.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This is one of the most significant decisions in the last few years in
Florida Workers’ Compensation, and you need to know how it affects you.
Find out how you can become personally liable for actions you take or do
not take on a claim. Learn some things you should do, things you should
not do and what impact this ruling may have on your mediations and
settlements.
11:00 – 12:00 pm
The Top Ten Reasons Why Claimants go to
Lawyers
Moderator:
Raymond A. Lopez, Attorney
Rissman,
Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain, P.A.
Orlando, FL
Panel:
Glen D. Wieland, Attorney
Wieland & Hilado,
P.A.
Orlando, FL
Stewart L. Colling, Attorney
Colling, Gilbert
& Wright, P.A.
Maitland, FL
Here is your chance. Two top quality claimants’ lawyers will tell you what claimants tell them about why they seek counsel. You thought you were doing everything to keep injured workers from needing lawyers. Find out if you were right.
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Oral Argument
(The
same presentation will take place in Breakout for Adjusters, Program One
and Program Two)
Presented by the First District Court of Appeal
Moderator:
Jon S.
Wheeler
Clerk
First District Court of Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Panel:
Honorable Charles J. Kahn, Jr., Chief Judge
First District
Court of Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Peter D. Webster
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Marguerite Davis
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Edwin B. Browning, Jr.
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Joseph Lewis, Jr.
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Paul M. Hawkes
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Bradford L. Thomas
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Don Brannon, Marshal
First District
Court of Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
This session is a first time ever for the
adjuster breakouts. Both Program One and Program Two will combine so
that all adjusters can watch two actual cases being argued live before a
panel of Judges of the First District Court of Appeal. The decision of
the Court will be posted on the Court’s website several weeks after the
oral arguments take place. Although this presentation is part of the
Breakout for Adjusters, everyone is invited to attend.
3:15 – 4:15 pm
Fraud: You Can Never Know Too Much
Moderator:
Jana
Cauley
Claims Supervisor
Summit Claims Management
Lakeland, FL
Panel:
Jeffrey Korte
Bureau Chief Workers’
Compensation Fraud
Department of Financial Services/Division of Insurance Fraud
Tallahassee, FL
Robert J. Rodriguez, Attorney
Miller, Kagan,
Rodriguez & Silver, P.A.
Miami, FL
Fraud continues to be a problem in the Workers’ Compensation industry.
The panelists will present case scenarios, taking us through the role of
the adjuster, the Division of Insurance Fraud and the State Attorney in
the prosecution of a successful criminal fraud case. The panelists
will speak on accumulating key information and how exculpatory evidence
can impact the result. There will be a discussion on “intent,” and
“knowingly or intentionally” engaging in any acts that constitute fraud
or misrepresentation.
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Ethics
Carl Van
President & CEO
International Insurance Institute, Inc.
Gretna, LA
Nationally known speaker, Carl Van, always gets the adrenaline flowing. Here he educates adjusters on how and why they should empathize with claimants. The more an adjuster realizes exactly what an injured worker is going through, the better prepared the adjuster will be to meet those challenges.
Breakout for Adjusters
Program Two
8:45
– 9:45 am
Handling Catastrophic Cases: Damage
Control
Moderator:
Marilyn Roofner, P.T.
Physician Relations and
Business Development
Orlando Regional Healthcare Systems
Orlando, FL
Panel:
David
Portee, MD
Specialty Peer Review
Physician Consultant
KePRO South
Orlando, FL
Robin Lopez
Team Manager/Supervisor
Liberty Mutual Group
Tampa, FL
Catastrophic injuries are infrequent but very costly. A physician and a claims’ adjuster, who both specialize in catastrophic injuries, will tell you what to expect from a medical standpoint and what to anticipate from a claims’ handling perspective. Proactive and prompt medical care are critical elements in these types of cases.
10:00 – 12:00 pm
Issues and Answers: Hot Topics
Moderator:
Jeff
Taylor
President
MSA Annuity
Sarasota, FL
Panel:
Nancy
G. Kornbluh
Technical Specialist
St. Paul/Travelers Insurance
Orlando, FL
Beverly K. Romine
Workers’ Compensation HEX
Claim Consultant
The Hartford Insurance Group
Lake Mary, FL
Nicole Gordon
Claims Supervisor
ESIS
Tampa, FL
Mary McDaniel
Workers’ Compensation
Manager
Oasis
Sarasota, FL
Scott H. Silver, Attorney
Miller, Kagan,
Rodriguez & Silver, P.A.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
As always, this is one of the premiere presentations of the entire convention. All of the claims’ professionals on this panel will present a detailed analysis of several workers’ compensation “hot topics”. Scott Silver’s role is to crystallize the issues and present them in his own unique way. Moderator, Jeff Taylor, will be your guide. Among the topics discussed will be how to defend a new law permanent total claim, how to defend a new law temporary partial claim, adjuster depositions, and settling complicated cases, especially in light of wrongful termination, ADA and voluntary resignation issues.
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Oral Argument
(The
same presentation will take place in Breakout for Adjusters, Program One
and Program Two) Presented by the First District Court of Appeal
Moderator:
Jon S.
Wheeler
Clerk
First District Court of Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Panel:
Honorable Charles J. Kahn, Jr.
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Peter D. Webster
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Marguerite Davis
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Edwin B. Browning, Jr.
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Joseph Lewis, Jr.
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Paul M. Hawkes
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Honorable Bradford L. Thomas
First District Court of
Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
Don Brannon, Marshal
First District
Court of Appeal
Tallahassee, FL
This session is a first time ever for the adjuster breakouts. Both Program One and Program Two will combine so that all adjusters can watch two actual cases being argued live before a panel of Judges of the First District Court of Appeal. The decision of the Court will be posted on the Court’s website several weeks after the oral arguments take place. Although this presentation is part of Breakout for Adjusters, everyone is invited to attend.
3:15 – 4:15 pm
Ethics: The More You Know, The Better You
Will Be
Cynthia Gaul
Workers’ Compensation
Claims Director
FCCI Insurance Group
Sarasota, FL
Justine G. Esser, CWC, ACA
Claims Manager
Workers Temporary Staffing
Lake Mary, FL
Recent case law may have caused some adjusters unrest and fear of applying appropriate guidelines. For the handling of claims, this breakout discussion will encompass the timing of invoking statutory guidelines and the adjuster’s role within those timeframes. There are tools available so that an adjuster can be proactive and ethical at the same time.
4:15 – 5:15 pm
Preparing for Claims Reviews: The Show Must
Go On
Moderator:
Tere
V. Elkins, CRM
Operations Manager
Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
Lake Mary, FL
Panel:
Sonya
Y. Vega
Workers’ Compensation
Coordinator
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Orlando, FL
Crystal Chancey
Workers’ Compensation
Claims Supervisor
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Lakeland, FL
Thomas A. Neal
Safety and Risk Manager
Pepsi Bottling Group
Orlando, FL
Claims’ examiners and supervisors are faced with client claim reviews on an on-going basis. They only have one chance to make a lasting impression by showing the client employer that they are in control of the file and they are knowledgeable on the laws and strategies that can minimize the claims’ loss exposure. In this session, claim professionals and employers discuss the best practices in preparing for and completing a claims’ review by identifying the key elements of moving the file to closure and formulating an appropriate action plan toward this goal.
Breakout on Medical Issues
(Adjusters)
Wednesday, August 16
8:45 – 9:45 am
The “Write” Stuff
Moderator:
Nat
Levine
President
The Family Practice Center of Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL
Panel:
Lisa
Wagner
Claim Manager
Unisource Administrators
Sarasota, FL
E. Louis Stern, Attorney
McConnaughhay,
Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver, P.A.
Sarasota, FL
Jeffrey S. Penner, MD
Atlantis Orthopaedics
Atlantis, FL
Want the right answers? Ask the right
questions! This breakout will teach you how to write “case specific”
letters to physicians. This expert panel will discuss what they want to
see in their letters. At least, learn how to ask the right
questions on compensability, RTW, referrals and plans of care. Don’t be
intimidated any longer. Don’t allow the physician to write, “See
DWC-25”. Don’t miss this one!
10:00 – 11:00 am
“Let’s Cut to the Chase”: A Primer in Lacerations, Burns and Wound
Care
Moderator:
Nat
Levine
President
Family Practice Center of Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL
Speaker:
Barry
M. Miskin, MD
General Surgeon
Jupiter, FL
Are you still asking, “How many stitches did he get?” as opposed to “How many centimeters was the laceration?” Do you know the difference between a simple, complex and layered closure? Why do certain wounds heal faster than others? Is there a proper burn care? Listen to an expert in surgery and burn care offer all of the answers? If you ever had a question about this subject, don’t miss this lecture!
11:00 – 12:00 pm
Shadow Syndromes
Moderator:
Nat
Levine
President
Family Practice Center of Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL
Speaker:
Homi
S. Cooper, MD
Atlantic Orthopaedic Group
Melbourne, FL
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are two of the newer buzzwords. They are a diagnosis of exclusion, but alone or in concert with a workers’ compensation illness or injury can escalate the cost of a claim. RSD is another diagnosis that is a cause of concern to payors. How can we treat them? Can we treat them? Can we control them?
Breakout on Advanced Mediation
Techniques for Adjusters and Mediators
Wednesday, August 16
9:00 – 12:00 pm
Grand Ballroom 11
Convention Level
Moderator:
Stuart F. Suskin, Attorney
State
Mediator-District B
Gainesville, FL
Panel:
Robert L. Dietz, Attorney
Orlando, FL
Christine Harter, Attorney
Ocala, FL
Kathryn Collins Peek, Attorney
Jacksonville, FL
Charles R. Morcroft, Attorney
Boca Raton, FL
Mediation has become an integral part of the workers’ compensation system. All cases are mediated prior to hearing. This program will address tactics and strategies that have been employed by mediators to deal with difficult situations. Each panel member will discuss one or two challenging problems encountered in mediation and the techniques they employed to successfully get through a trying moment or ultimately resolve the dispute. A discussion will follow the panel member’s presentation. This program is targeted for mediators, attorneys and adjusters who are interested in methods or ideas for dealing with difficult mediations. Topics include: selection of the mediator, the mediation conference, collateral issues, ethics and fraud.
This 180 minute program is designed to provide 3.6 hours of general mediation education.
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