2009 Agenda

 

Thursday, March 19, 2000 Optional Master Classes
7:30 am	8:30 am	Master Class Registration and Continental Breakfast
10:00 am	10:15 am	Networking Break
8:30 am	11:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2 Master Classes)
		Master Class #1 Claims Management: The Essentials of North Carolina Workers’ Comp (H7732003)
		Master Class #2 Mock Investigation: Conducting Effective Accident Investigations to Protect Your Organization (H7732004)
11:00 am	12:30 pm	Main Conference Registration and Networking Lunch in Exhibition Hall
Thursday, March 19, 2009 Main Conference
12:30 pm	12:45 pm	Opening Remarks from the Chair
12:45 pm	1:45 pm	OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION: COMPLIANCE UPDATE New Developments in the North Carolina Workers’ Comp System
1:45 pm	2:45 pm	KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION: CONTROLLING CLAIMS COSTS Managing Claims to Control Costs and Reduce Risks
2:45 pm	3:15 pm	Networking Break in Exhibition Hall
3:15 pm	4:15 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		CHRONIC CONDITIONS: “DIABESITY” How Diabetes and Obesity Are Changing Workers’ Comp Care (H7732006)
		LEGAL PERSPECTIVE: HEARINGS Preparing for a Successful Hearing at the Industrial Commission (H7732007)
4:15 pm	5:15 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		Deciphering the Overlap Between the ADA, FMLA, and Workers’ Comp (H7732009)
		CASE STUDY: SAFETY WORKS! Developing and Maintaining a Successful Safety Culture to Prevent Accidents and Injuries (H7732010)
5:15 pm	7:15 pm	Networking Cocktail Reception in Exhibition Hall
Friday, March 20, 2009 Day 2
7:30 am	8:30 am	Continental Breakfast
8:30 am	9:30 am	KEYNOTE SESSION: CASE LAW UPDATE Current Cases That Can Impact Your Organization
9:30 am	10:30 am	(Choose 1 of 2)
		PANEL DISCUSSION: CLAIMS MANAGEMENT Handling a Complex Claim from Injury Through Return to Work (H7732012)
		MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE Successfully Handling Lower Extremity Injuries and Return-to-Work Challenges (H7732013)
10:30 am	11:00 am	Networking Break in Exhibition Hall
11:00 am	12:30 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		CASE STUDY: REDUCING COMP COSTS Taking a Look at How Duke University is Reducing Workers’ Comp Costs (H7732015)
		PANEL DISCUSSION: HR AND WORKERS’ COMP Managing Workers’ Comp Risk from an HR Perspective (H7732016)
12:30 pm	2:00 pm	Networking Lunch in Exhibit Hall
2:00 pm	3:00 pm	(Choose 1 of 2)
		FRAUD ALERTS Conquering Your Most Pressing Challenges When Preventing and Investigating Potentially Fraudulent Claims (H7732018)
		Wellness Works! How North Carolina Employers Are Helping Keep Employers Healthy and Reducing Risks (H7732019)
3:00 pm	3:15 pm	Break
3:15 pm	4:30 pm	PANEL DISCUSSION: KEEPING INJURED EMPLOYEES PRODUCTIVE Emerging Trends and Best Practices in Modified Duty and Return-to-Work Programs
4:30 pm		Conference Concludes

8:30 am Master Class #1 Claims Management: The Essentials of North Carolina Workers’ Comp (H7732003) The North Carolina workers’ comp process is fraught with land mines. Dealing with medical professionals, processing forms on time, and handling the injured employee all at once can be a confusing and complex process. This session will give you an in-depth look at the NC workers’ comp process and how you can minimize costs and lost time. Untangling the NC Workers’ Compensation Act Documentation tips and tactics to ensure compliance Working with your medical providers to ensure quick claims resolution and return to work Managing a disputed claim successfully Cost-efficient claims resolution: Minimize your risks, maximize employee morale Back

8:30 am Master Class #2 Mock Investigation: Conducting Effective Accident Investigations to Protect Your Organization (H7732004) Conducting an investigation of each accident and near miss is an important part of any safety program. The information you will learn in this master class will help you manage your claims, spot weaknesses in your safety policies, and prevent future injuries. To help you achieve your goals, our panel of investigation and safety professionals will give you the practical tips and tactics for conducting accident investigations as well as present a mock investigation of a worksite accident. Developing an investigation procedure before you need one Preparing forms useful in claim investigations Determining the best investigator for a claim Collecting facts, interviewing witnesses, and compiling documentation The witness interview: Critical questions to ask immediately following the accident What your accident report should say and other important documentation issues Back

12:30 pm Opening Remarks from the Chair Susan H. Briggs, Esq., Shareholder DICKIE, MCCAMEY & CHILCOTE, P.C. Back

12:45 pm OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION: COMPLIANCE UPDATE New Developments in the North Carolina Workers’ Comp System In this session, get the latest updates on recent and pending North Carolina workers’ comp legislation and regulations, as well as emerging trends at the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Back

1:45 pm KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION: CONTROLLING CLAIMS COSTS Managing Claims to Control Costs and Reduce Risks According to a WCRI study, average medical costs per claim (with more than 7 days lost time) in North Carolina increased an average of 10 percent a year over the last five years. The average indemnity benefit per claim in North Carolina was the highest in the 14 states studied. In this session, our panel of specialists will give you the information you need to help control your costs, close your claims, and get your employees back to work! Back

3:15 pm CHRONIC CONDITIONS: “DIABESITY” How Diabetes and Obesity Are Changing Workers’ Comp Care (H7732006) Medical costs are consuming an ever-increasing portion of the workers’ comp dollar. One of the cost drivers in workers’ compensation and health care is the growing rate of obesity and diabetes. This chronic condition can cause serious health problems and make workers’ comp injuries much, much worse. An employer can increase productivity and reduce lost time by ensuring employees take care of their health and individual conditions. This session will take a look at the relationship between employees’ health risks, increasing obesity problems, growing diabetes challenges, and the role of workers’ comp. Brian J. Caveney, MD, JD, MPH President CAROLINAS OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATION Clinical Associate, Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Back

3:15 pm LEGAL PERSPECTIVE: HEARINGS Preparing for a Successful Hearing at the Industrial Commission (H7732007) Resolving contested claims can be a time-consuming and expensive process. This session will give you practical strategies for managing a claim at the IC level. With strategies that can help settle the most challenging claims, you can take control of your claims process to reduce disputes and settle your most frustrating cases. Preventing common communication breakdowns between claimants and employers Key elements of the North Carolina adjudication process: What you can do to enhance your chances of winning a contested-case hearing Avoiding the common mistakes that can send claims to litigation Understanding how effective documentation and recordkeeping will enhance your chances of success in litigation Ryan Bisplinghoff, Esq., Attorney MCANGUS, GOUDELOCK & COURIE, LLC Back

4:15 pm Deciphering the Overlap Between the ADA, FMLA, and Workers’ Comp (H7732009) As if dealing with an employee’s injury isn’t confusing enough, what happens when you add FMLA leave, the ADA, and other leave issues to the mix? Our speakers will give you tips to keep you in compliance with the leave laws that might affect an injured employee. They will share strategies that will keep you in compliance with the ADA and the FMLA. ADA updates: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and it’s impact on your organization FMLA alert: Extensions in the FMLA and how this interacts with workers’ comp When is a workers’ comp injury also a protected disability or serious health condition? Job descriptions: Is attendance an essential function of the job? Back

4:15 pm CASE STUDY: SAFETY WORKS! Developing and Maintaining a Successful Safety Culture to Prevent Accidents and Injuries (H7732010) Accidents, near misses, and workplace injuries are preventable. Preventing injuries is one of the best ways to cut your workers’ compensation costs. Accident frequency, as well as accident severity, can drive up your claim costs. Designing a program that effectively reduces accidents and injuries can minimize lost time, improve employee morale, and seriously reduce your workers’ comp costs. Achieving an employee-driven safety culture: Motivational techniques that work to get employees on board from the start Investing your resources on initiatives that will have an impact: Maximizing your return on investment Strategies to build management and employee buy-in Measuring and improving the effectiveness of your safety program Protecting your organization from complaints and OSHA fines Back

8:30 am KEYNOTE SESSION: CASE LAW UPDATE Current Cases That Can Impact Your Organization This session will provide you with a complete update on significant workers’ comp court decisions and pending litigation, with commentary on how they are likely to impact employers and others on the front lines of North Carolina workers’ comp. Our leading workers’ comp defense attorney will bring you the vital information you need to stay in compliance and reduce your exposure. Back

9:30 am PANEL DISCUSSION: CLAIMS MANAGEMENT Handling a Complex Claim from Injury Through Return to Work (H7732012) In this session, you will walk through a complex workers’ compensation case to discover the best practices in handling claims. From the time of the injury until the employee is back at work, there are strategies you can use to help maximize the efficiency of your claims-management process. First response: What every employer should do immediately after an accident or injury Answering complex compensability questions Medical treatment: Working with medical providers to reduce the risks and get employees back to work Nurse case managers: Using case managers to help prevent issues and solve problems Handling a disputed claim before it ends up in court Back

9:30 am MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE Successfully Handling Lower Extremity Injuries and Return-to-Work Challenges (H7732013) While backs, knees, and shoulders remain a focal point for discussion about injuries in the workplace, it’s not often enough that you find out everything you need to know about foot and ankle injuries and their relation to workers’ comp. Hear from our expert who specializes in lower extremity trauma and workplace injuries and get advice on accomplishing recovery with your employees and getting them back to work quicker, resulting in a win-win for all! Michael S. Kerzner, DPM, Physician CENTRAL CAROLINA FOOT AND ANKLE ASSOCIATES Back

11:00 am CASE STUDY: REDUCING COMP COSTS Taking a Look at How Duke University is Reducing Workers’ Comp Costs (H7732015) Eight years ago, Duke University and Health System experienced soaring workers' compensation costs. The program has since undergone significant changes as a result of substantial efforts throughout the organization to reduce its workers’ compensation costs and build a safety culture. The financial outcome of these efforts has been an estimated $4 million annual reduction in the direct cost of new claims. In this session, Lois Ann Green, Director of Benefits, CCP, and Joyce Williams, Director of Workers’ Compensation, JD, MBA, will share Duke’s experience and the strategies that were implemented to create this favorable financial outcome, and also discuss the ongoing organization-wide efforts to improve Duke's safety culture. Your participation through sharing strategies you are using (including what worked, what didn't, and what is still in progress) as well as your questions and ideas will be actively sought. Lois Ann Green, Director of Benefits DUKE UNIVERSITY AND HEALTH SYSTEM Joyce Williams, Director, Workers’ Compensation DUKE UNIVERSITY AND HEALTH SYSTEM Back

11:00 am PANEL DISCUSSION: HR AND WORKERS’ COMP Managing Workers’ Comp Risk from an HR Perspective (H7732016) There may be one person in charge of your workers’ compensation program or it may involve several departments, but either way, there are plenty of ways HR can impact your program costs. Departments must work together in managing claims costs, tracking lost time, ensuring compliance with related employment laws, and working with injured employees. HR can lead the way! In this panel discussion we will hear from leading North Carolina organizations on how HR can and should interact with the other players in the comp circle. Back

2:00 pm FRAUD ALERTS Conquering Your Most Pressing Challenges When Preventing and Investigating Potentially Fraudulent Claims (H7732018) Workers’ comp fraud is one of the most frustrating challenges when handling claims. Developing a plan for preventing and responding to malingering and fraudulent claims can ensure you close claims on a timely basis and reduce your claims costs. Emerging trends in managing fraud in North Carolina Attacking the fraud problem in workers’ compensation Taking advantage of independent medical exams and second opinions to reduce malingering Implementing legal methods of discipline when dealing with employee malingering and exaggeration Training managers and employees on timely injury reporting to catch questionable claims Proactively identifying and responding to suspected fraud to minimize costly claims Determining which aspects of a fraud investigation can help close a claim Conducting successful fraud investigations that will stand up in court Back

2:00 pm Wellness Works! How North Carolina Employers Are Helping Keep Employers Healthy and Reducing Risks (H7732019) Several recent studies have given wellness programs a 300% return on investment. This includes increases in employee productivity, a reduction in lost time, and decreases in health insurance costs. Wellness programs also tend to decrease the costs of workers’ compensation claims since healthy employees get injured less often and return to work quicker after an injury. In this session we will be looking at IBM’s award-winning program, Wellness for Life. Learn how IBM is using this program to help employees find an active and healthy lifestyle. Back

3:15 pm PANEL DISCUSSION: KEEPING INJURED EMPLOYEES PRODUCTIVE Emerging Trends and Best Practices in Modified Duty and Return-to-Work Programs Increases in frequency and severity of workplace injuries and mounting lost workdays can have a devastating impact on an organization’s bottom line. Keeping your employees working after an injury can save you in lost days and impact your costs per claim. In this session, our panel of industry experts will provide cutting-edge tools to arm you with the knowledge and tools to implement a state-of-the-art return-to-work program that incorporates proven cost-containment strategies. Developing strategies with your health care providers for the early identification of employees who may need medical management and return-to-work plans The importance of job-function matching and physician education to define objective barometers for meaningful transitional duties and significantly reduce lost workdays Finding alternative positions for workers who may have limited skills or physical abilities Implementing manager collaboration in the transitional and accommodation process Execution of a successful interactive process to realize effective job accommodations Using creativity in designing job tasks to align with all varieties of work restrictions and physical limitations Back