Author: mpew

How Spinal Fusion Can Create New Complications Several weeks ago, I wrote about two of the most dreaded words in workers’ compensation. The words “spinal fusion” can represent a significant problem in addressing workers compensation cases. With the assumption that the need for a lumbar fusion has been adjudicated, and the perceived need is a function of the compensable event, one must realize that in an effort to address these…

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Why Claim Resolution Often Goes Off Track Obtaining a resolution for a compensable injury is the ultimate goal of every workers’ compensation professional. However, the path to closure is rarely a straight line. Between clinical hurdles, occupational rehabilitation issues, and administrative friction, the process is often bogged down by “tangential factors” that distract from the primary objective. A key component of this process is establishing a return-to-work (RTW) plan in a manner…

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A framework for making education spend defensible, not discretionary Training budgets get cut first. Not because they matter least, but because they are usually presented as if they matter least. When a budget staffer or committee is trimming for the year, discretionary line items go before core operating costs. If professional education shows up in your budget package as a discretionary line, it will be treated as one, regardless of…

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