Far be it for me to offer two blog posts in a row that reference the entertainment franchise, Star Trek. I am not a “Trekkie nerd” by any stretch of the imagination, although I do enjoy many of the 973 or so series the concept has spawned. Through many episodes there are numerous references and suggestions of the various technologies that make warp travel possible in the 22nd century and…
Free: A Live Course - Achieving a Successful Partnership Among the Stakeholders: Part 2 Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 @ 1:00 PM Eastern Space is Limited - Enroll Today! The workers’ compensation ecosystem has many stakeholders. Their incentives often, but don’t always, align. This can complicate how they service the two most important stakeholders … the employer and injured employee. When these various stakeholders create silos with different priorities, it can…
To be honest, this post doesn’t have much to do with Star Trek. Ok, it has nothing to do with Star Trek, except for a clever play on words designed to suck you in and take you along for a joy ride of erudition. Or not. Whatever, you’ve come this far. Might as well slug your way through the rest of this morass. The movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath…
In today's business landscape, the ability to quantify risks in financial terms is crucial. With this information, the business can focus appropriate resources to mitigate enterprise-wide risks by shifting the risk to another company or by reducing the risk through improved operational efficiency. While businesses inevitably bear the costs of risk in their operations, the question is, what is the monetary value of managing these risks, and how can they…
I love the workers’ compensation space. I feel like I was born into it. I grew up watching my father beat his body up as he worked manual labor (and continues to do so well into his 70s). I had an emergency door handle pierce the skin of my upper thigh while I was working at one of my very first jobs which required a plethora of sutures. I began…
[Dubuque, IA, January 25, 2024] – CBCS, a leader in Third-Party Claims Administration, has announced a strategic partnership with WorkCompCollege.com, utilizing their innovative Virtual Training Center (VTC) for all of their employee training needs. This collaboration marks a significant step in CBCS's commitment to providing exceptional service through advanced training and development. CBCS, with over 40 years of experience in handling Property & Casualty claims, has always prioritized client-focused solutions…
Effective communication is vital in every aspect of our lives, including the workplace. In the context of workers' compensation, communication plays a crucial role in setting expectations, fostering positive interactions, and achieving desired outcomes. This article explores the significance of communication in workers' compensation, the various communication channels employed, the impact of non-verbal communication, and the importance of maintaining professionalism. Additionally, we delve into whether people are becoming more "whiny"…
Best Practices for claims departments to maximize the effectiveness of an audit With commentary and insight from Rick Sabetta and Barry Bloom As a Claims Supervisor I reacted very poorly to my first workers compensation claims audit. I went through the familiar stages that one does when first audited: Anger (at how anyone could question my decisions or results) Denial (that someone in my claims unit had made mistakes) Negotiations (over…
by Bill Zachry, SCIF Board Member and Barry Bloom, Managing Partner, The bdb Group “As the claims manager goes, so goes the office.” The most important job in a workers’ compensation claim office is the claims manager. Most companies strive for consistency and accuracy with regard to benefit provision. They work hard to achieve these results while trying to maintain a low cost of claims administration. To accomplish these results, they establish policies…
Management Engagement: The approach and attitude that senior management takes regarding injury prevention, safety, employee welfare, interaction with injured workers, and treatment of claims partners are primary determinants of successfully managing the workers' compensation program. Hiring the Right Employee: Hiring qualified and engaged employees is essential for reducing the risk of workplace injuries and subsequent workers' compensation claims. In today’s employment market this can be a particular challenge. Safety and…
