JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delivering better outcomes with physical therapy services was the topic of the session, “Understanding the Stakeholders,” sponsored by Align Networks, a One Call Care Management business unit and leading provider of workers’ compensation physical medicine programs, at the Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in Orlando, August 17 - 20, 2014.
The session was part of a dedicated four-hour “Physical Therapy Breakout,” the first continuing education event for physical therapists and occupational therapists to be held at the conference.
“These presentations and discussions gave physical medicine practitioners, case managers and adjusters critical new information from experts that will help them achieve better outcomes for the injured workers they treat and manage,” said Kim Radcliffe, PT, MHA, president of Align Networks. “We are very happy to have this opportunity to assist in the organization and to be part of the presentations that will drive best practices in the physical medicine profession for years to come.”
Insights shared by the panel, consisting of an employer, physician, ergonomics expert and insurer, included:
- Clear, goal-oriented documentation is essential to ensure all parties are informed about the injured worker’s progress with physical therapy.
- Essential job function descriptions must be established so physical therapy treatment and progress can be measured in terms of the injured worker’s ability to perform his or her job duties.
- Employment testing can result in considerable reduction of injuries and increased retention, but be sure that all employment tests are directly connected to essential job functions.
Michelle Despres, PT, CEAS II, Executive Director at Align Networks moderated this session, which included panelists: Tom Chasser, Field Product Line Manager at Travelers Insurance; Claude Revels, Benefits Administration Director at JM Family Enterprises; Jim Briggs, OTR, Vice President at Advanced Ergonomics Inc.; and Richard Spirer, M.D., Medical Director at Physicians Health Center.
Other topics addressed during the breakout included the management of today’s injured workers who tend to be older, overweight, and have co-morbidities; enhanced documentation for physical therapy services; and advantages and disadvantages of exercise versus other treatment options.
About Align Networks
Align Networks manages a specialized workers’ compensation provider network of outpatient rehabilitation facilities throughout the United States. Align Networks partners with its customers to expedite scheduling and treatment of injured workers, while providing significant cost savings relative to direct-to-provider contracting and ensuring appropriate usage through its proprietary utilization management system. Align Networks is a business unit of One Call Care Management, the nation’s leading provider of specialized solutions to the workers’ compensation industry. For further information, please visit: www.alignnetworks.com.
About One Call Care Management
One Call Care Management (One Call) is the nation’s leading provider of specialized solutions to the workers’ compensation industry. One Call’s solutions enable faster, more efficient and more cost-effective claims resolution. One Call provides reliable, consistent connections to care with expertise in high end diagnostics, physical therapy and transportation services, post-discharge home care and durable medical equipment, dental and doctor specialty services, complex care management, and the language services required for today’s multicultural workforce. With a focus on injured workers’ needs across the continuum of care, One Call enables maximum medical improvement and superior outcomes. For more information, visit www.onecallcm.com.
