Work Comp Complex Care Blog

Popcorn Lung Victim Awarded $30.4 Million and Other Workers' Comp News

2010-09-03T17:02:55Z

Fred Hosier of SafetyNewsAlert.com reports that a jury in Chicago has awarded the largest individual verdict in a popcorn lung disease case. A jury awarded $30.4 million to Gerardo Solis who has worked for about 20 years in plants that processed diacetyl, a butter flavoring commonly used as a popcorn flavoring. Read the entire story Jury awards $30.4 million in worker's popcorn lung lawsuit.

Physician Dispensing in Florida

For an interesting take on physician dispensing in Florida, read Joe Paduda's recent blog post on the topic -- MCM's Investigative Reporting -- physician dispensing in Florida. Not only does Joe give you his honest opinion on why this topic should be causing you heartburn, he provides an excellent "peek behind the curtain" in terms of some of the players in the current political race for the governor's office in Florida. Very interesting reading.

Remembering Katrina

And if you haven't yet had enough of the news networks' review of what happened five years ago when Katrina redesigned New Orleans, here is a great piece by Julie Ferguson of Workers' Comp Insider, see Remembering Katrina. She does a fantastic job of correlating the devastation Katrina caused to the health issues that still prevail in the area. Sadly, while there has been a great deal of rebuilding of the physical structures there, and much has been accomplished, the toll has been very high on the health and emotional well-being of the residents there.

And one final thought on Katrina, watch the trailer for The Big Uneasy, a film by Harry Shearer, actor/comedian and New Orleans resident. The film played on the big screen for one day, August 30, to mark the five year anniversary of Katrina. It is a documentary film that explores whether or not the devastation Katrina caused was a natural or a man-made disaster. Hoping it will be available on DVD soon...

Current Trends of In-Home Medical Devices and Technology

2010-08-31T15:08:21Z

Zack Craft, vice president of rehabilitation technology and complex care at Total Medical Solutions identifies some of the current trends of the in-home medical device industry:

Improvements in Home Automation. Zack says we're seeing a trend towards improved home automation, including the use of voice recognition to control electronic devices in the home. Bluetooth technology enables patients to interact with computer systems, power chairs, mobile phones, land lines, light switches and air conditioning thermostats. Being able to control temperature in the home is especially important when dialysis or wound care equipment is running -- it produces extra heat. In addition, voice recognition and other technologies help patients move beds up and down and allow video conferencing to monitor the front door -- so patients can see who is at the front door without getting out of bed.
Products are becoming more portable. More portable devices means reduced transportation and delivery costs. For example, Zack has noticed a trend towards having patients fill their own oxygen tanks.
Devices are getting smaller, cost less. Zack sees devices getting smaller and easier to use. He points out that wound vacs are now as small as a Sony Walkman radio device. Smaller devices provide the patient increased mobility and make it easier for patients to use devices in the home. Because the devices are shrinking in size, costs are decreasing as well.

Zack was recently quoted in Assembly Magazine's article Medical Device Assembly: There's No Place Like Home.

Thought-Controlled Prosthetic Limb Systems: Coming Soon

In other quite interesting technology news, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab has won a contract to test a thought-controlled Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) system. Read the full story Hopkins Applied Physics Lab to Test Thought-Controlled Prosthetic Limb System at Robotics Trends website.

The MPL design offers 22 degrees of motion, including independent motion of each finger, in a package that weighs the same as a natural limb (about nine pounds). The MPL is capable of "...unprecedented mechanical agility and is designed to respond to the user's thoughts." Within the year, the Johns Hopkins APL team expects to initiate testing with a high spinal cord injury patient. The test results are designed to help upper-limb amputees and spinal cord injury patients, as well as others who have lost the ability to use their natural limbs, to have as normal a life as possible, despite severe injuries or degenerative neurological disease.

Worker Bamboozled by Peanuts

2010-08-27T16:49:39Z

As reported by Fred Hosier at SafetyNewsAlert.com, here is yet another tale of a worker falling victim at his job. This time, a worker at Birdsong Peanuts in Suffolk, VA fell into a 50-foot tall storage tank filled with peanuts as he was checking the level of the nuts with a co-worker. The poor fellow was submerged 15 feet under the nuts by the time rescue workers arrived. Firefighters were able to get a self-contained breathing apparatus to the man as they were concerned he may suffocate buried under the peanuts. Luckily, the worker was eventually able to climb down a ladder on his own and seems to be fine.

Unfortunately, workers becoming entrapped in storage facilities that hold grains and similar materials is something that happens more often than you'd like to think. In related news, OSHA recently sent a letter to Grain Storage Facility Operators that clearly outlines the responsibilities of the storage facility operators to keep workers safe.

Total Medical Solutions Earns Two Distinctions

2010-08-26T12:00:56Z

Cara Barde, president of Total Medical Solutions (TMS) reports that Total Medical Solutions has earned two distinctions this year. Earlier this year, Florida Trend named TMS one of Florida's Best Companies to Work for 2010. TMS made the list of best mid-sized companies to work for in 2010.

And for the second year in a row, TMS appears on the prestigious Inc. Magazine's Inc. 5000 list. Making this list is a pretty amazing accomplishment. Why? Because it means that TMS ranks as one of the 5,000 FASTEST growing companies in America. That's not so easy given our current economic climate. This year, TMS ranks as #3440, is one of only 26 companies appearing on the list from the Orlando area, and ranks as #291 in the Health industry segment. TMS posted 53% growth from 2006 to 2009. Congratulations to the entire staff of Total Medical Solutions. Each and every employee played an integral part in achieving this impressive distinction.

Here is just one reason why TMS ranks among the best. In the video below, Zack Craft tells a story that we posted about earlier this year. Read our post A Little Pink Goes A Long Way. It is a heartwarming story of how the staff of TMS get personal. In this case, the employees take a very personal interest in improving the life of a claimant whose favorite color happens to be pink...

New Gadget Alert: Robot Wheelchairs and Bionic Legs

2010-08-19T08:05:33Z

Another exciting development in wheelchair technology as reported by MedGadget last week in their post Wheelchair on Autopilot Follows Bipedaled Humans. This new technology has been introduced by engineers at Saitama University's Human-Robot Interaction Center in Japan. They have created a wheelchair movement system that keeps the wheelchair next to a person wearing a radio beacon. It is reportedly smart enough to anticipate turns and determine whether or not it should move beside the companion, or follow behind, when moving through congested or tight areas. Commercial production should follow soon.

And in other news, Rex the robotic exoskeleton aims to make wheelchairs obsolete! as Engadget.com reported last month. Click the link to read the full press release and watch some really cool videos of Rex.

This set of bionic legs is the product of seven years of development work by Rex Bionics and Dr. Richard Roxburgh, a neurologist in Auckland, New Zealand. The Rex exoskeleton can support the full weight of a person, and according to the company's press release, assists a person who usually uses a wheelchair, enabling them to stand, walk and go up and down steps and slopes. So, paraplegics can move around in a familiar bipedal fashion. A joystick and control pad allow for easy navigation and is simple enough for handicapped users to self transfer in and out. The company plans an international launch in 2011. Wow!

Real Ramping Projects: Before and After

2010-08-17T07:08:36Z

This is a follow up post to Disability Ramping: Consider Aluminum over Wood. Here we share some before and after photos of some recent ramping projects...

In Ramping Project 1 - BEFORE, you can see the front of the home with the sidewalk leading from the driveway to the front steps of the home.

In Ramping Project 1 - AFTER, you can see the completed ramping project after the aluminum modular ramping has been installed at the patient's home by Total Medical Solutions. The wheelchair-bound patient now has easy access to his home from the driveway right up to the front door.

In Ramping Project 2 - BEFORE, the project includes installing aluminum ramping in the back of the home from the driveway across the back yard and up to a back door entry at an existing wooden deck.

In Ramping Project 2 - AFTER, we have two photos showing how the ramping was installed to allow easy transition from the driveway to the ramp then up to the wooden deck and back door entry.

Notice in the photo below that a widened landing was included at the juncture from the driveway ramp to allow the patient enough room to maneuver a turn before heading up the ramp to the back door.

Finally, a great video provided by The Home Wheelchair Ramp Project, in Minnesota. While the video is blurry at times, the audio is good and includes comments from individuals that explain why some of the ramp examples shown are difficult to maneuver...good tips to keep in mind when coordinating a ramp installation for a patient who is wheelchair bound.

Total Medical Solutions recommends aluminum modular ramping. It outlasts wooden ramps, installation is super fast, aluminum ramping can be relocated if a patient moves and it can be stored or "banked" for use with future patients. This saves a considerable amount of money for the insurance carrier.

10 Reasons to Attend FWCI's 65th Annual Workers' Comp Educational Conference in Orlando

2010-08-11T14:46:08Z

Kevin Glennon, Vice President of Clinical Services at Total Medical Solutions is excited about the upcoming Annual Workers' Comp Educational Conference in Orlando, FL. Why?

Kevin's Top 10 Reasons To Attend

FWCI's Annual Workers' Comp Educational Conference

World Class Golf Tournament - Sunday, August 15! Play world class golf at the annual golf tournament at Hawks Landing Golf Club, Orlando World Center Marriott. Haven't registered yet? It's not too late. Late registration starts this Sunday at 7:30am with a shotgun start at 8:00am.
Get Your Continuing Education Credits! A plethora of continuing education opportunities exist for adjusters, agents, physicians, mediators, attorneys, nurses, human resource professionals, medicare set-aside certified consultants, safety professionals and more!
Football Legend Dan Marino will deliver the Guest Keynote Address. He's one of the most celebrated athletes in the world. As quarterback for the Miami Dolphins for 17 consecutive seasons, he held 25 NFL records at the time of his retirement. He and his wife Claire founded the Marino Autism Research Institute.
Attendees receive a copy of FWCI's 2010 Workers' Compensation Desk Manual - a $125 value. The only book of its kind, a 900+ page reference book, your complete guidebook to the workers' compensation system.
New vendors in the Exhibit Hall - Vendors showcase the latest in products, services and technology available in the Workers' Comp Industry.
Workers' Comp Club Stomp - a new kind of Monday night entertainment, the Orlando World Center Marriott will be transformed into a cool nightlife district where you and fellow attendees can STOMP between several different bars and nightclubs. There's something for everyone - like 80's music? Check out the band Switch; or dance to current pop culture dance tunes; swing your hips to authentic Latin musica or check out "The Street" where you'll find a DJ spinning tunes from his tricked-out Hummer H3 complete with roaming street entertainers.
Alex Sink, currently running for Florida Governor, appears for the 3rd year in a row, to deliver a Welcome Speech at the General Session.
Two Live Surgeries on Tuesday! Experience, watch and learn as two of the most renowned orthopedic surgeons in Central Florida perform LIVE two of the most common surgeries seen in workers' compensation claims today. Dr. Lawrence S. Halperin will perform a Carpal Tunnel Release and Dr. Bryan L. Reuss will perform an Arthroscopic Meniscus. These are part of the Adjusters' Breakout, but everyone is invited to attend.
Multi-State Breakout on Workers' Comp Laws on Wednesday. This breakout session has been expanded to a full day and includes important updates on the following states: North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Legal experts from this broad spectrum of states will assist claims handlers and employer management teams to recognize important jurisdictional trends, case law, cost savings techniques and litigation strategies to reduce your workers' comp exposure. Attendees of this breakout session receive the invaluable 2010 Multi-State Book of Workers' Comp Laws that includes the workers' comp statutes from each of the participating states.
Total Medical Solutions offers FREE Scooters. Need a little help navigating this vast jungle of workers' compensation wonderment? We can help! Please email Total Medical Solutions today. We'll fix you up with a scooter so getting around the conference will be a breeze.

Bonus reason - Meet Recovery Girl! Learn how Recovery Girl can help you save thousands of dollars on your complex workers' comp claims! Come by Booth 521 for a sneak peak. TMS Recovery Girl-10.html

Haven't registered yet? You can still register on-site. Attend for a day, or the entire conference. The conference is held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32821. The conference starts this Sunday, August 15 and ends Wednesday, August 18. For more information, please visit FWCI's website now.

Sniff Powered Wheelchair - Help for Severely Disabled

2010-08-06T16:22:00Z

MedGadget.com recently highlighted a unique nose-controlled wheelchair designed to help severely disabled individuals. It may enable people with severe disabilities to navigate wheelchairs and communicate with their loved ones. The technology that powers the chair? Sniffing -- inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Read Nose Controlled Wheelchair for Severely Disabled.

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel developed the nose sniff controlled wheelchair and say it has proven to be of practical use for certain severely disabled patients, especially those with what is called "locked-in" syndrome. Sniffing, since it often remains as the sole mechanism with any kind of precise control for the severely disabled, can also serve as a good tool for communication.

According to a press release by Weizmann Institute of Science, the technology is easily mastered, allowing users to navigate a wheelchair around a complex path or play a computer game with about the same speed and accuracy of a mouse or joystick. After just fifteen minutes of practice, a patient who is paralyzed from the neck down managed to navigate a wheelchair through a complex route as well as a non-disabled volunteer. Users were also able to communicate with family members - something they hadn't been able to do for a very long time. Four participants are using a new writing system and there are plans to further develop and distribute the technology.

More on sniffing and "locked-in" patients.

Are Employees Driving While Distracted? You Do The Math...

2010-08-04T15:19:55Z

Distracted driving has become a national epidemic. In June, the State of Georgia became the most recent state to pass texting and cell phone bills into law. Georgia is the thirteenth state this year to pass legislation in an attempt to reduce the number of distracted while driving accidents. Take a look at 2010 New Cell Phone / Texting Driving Laws for a recap of states to pass such legislation.

Tips To Help You Reduce Distracted Driving Injuries

Refresh your safe driving program. If you don't have one, create one now!
Institute a "no texting or cell phone use while driving" policy.
Educate your employees about your safe driving practices. Include every delivery truck driver, salesperson, any employee who drives a company car, or any employee who drives their personal car on company business.
Practice and enforce your safe driving policies.
Download DriveSafe.ly NOW! It's Free. This mobile application reads text messages and emails aloud in real time and can automatically respond without drivers touching their mobile phones.

Also, read 15 Tips to Reduce Distracted Driving Injuries, as seen on the Workers' Comp Kit Blog.

Distracted Driving Statistics

Some highlights of distracted driving statistics as reported on Distraction.gov include:

In 2008, there were a total of 34,017 crashes with 37,261 fatalities
In 2008, 5,870 people (16% of total fatalities) were killed in crashes involving driver distraction
Drivers distracted at the time of fatal crashes has increased from 8 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2008
The under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes (16%); the next highest proportion of distracted drivers was the 20- to 29-year old age group (12%)
Motorcyclists and drivers of light trucks had the highest percentage of distracted drivers at the time of fatal crashes (12%)
An estimated 21% of 1,630,000 injury crashes were reported to have involved distracted driving

2nd Annual Distracted Driving Summit Planned

A second annual national summit will take place in Washington, DC in September to address the distracted driving epidemic. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the summit in a press release last week. The summit plans to bring together experts from around the country to explore the current challenges and identify public outreach solutions to the problem.

Chrissy gets a new face...

2010-07-30T07:30:00Z

Life is fine and then something happens and it's not. Here at Total Medical Solutions, we deal with people who have experienced life-changing injuries every day. Our staff is continually inspired by the strength and grace evidenced by the people who we serve. We meet a lot of everyday heroes who pick themselves up and put their lives back together in the face of overwhelming odds.

This is the story of one such person - Chrissy - she is not one of our patients - but her story of recovery is incredible on several levels - for the medical technology involved; for the reminder that dedicated health care professionals have the power to make a huge difference in a patient's quality of life; and for the grace and attitude of the woman who suffered a devastating, life-changing injury and did not let it defeat her.

View the remarkable story of Chrissy. It is truly amazing. She lost her face when she was shot at close range with a shotgun. She was only 16 years old. See Rebuilding Chrissy's Face

Americans with Disabilities Act Marks 20 Years This Week

2010-07-27T15:39:40Z

Twenty years ago this week, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although the ADA legislation included sweeping reforms intended to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities, there is still much debate over the cost and litigation associated with it. The ADA laws regulate employment practices, federal and local programs, transportation, public accommodations and commercial facilities.

Statistics: The Census Bureau claims that 54 million people have a disability - that's almost 1 in 5 Americans. More than 15 million people 15 years or older currently use a wheelchair.

News, information and events regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act:

MV-1 Wheels Across America Tour - Debuts the first factory-built wheelchair accessible vehicle

Disabilities debate rages 20 years later - an article by CNN.com

ADA Anniversary - a website devoted to events and information about the 20th anniversary of ADA

Disability.gov - a website connecting the disability community to information and opportunities; includes an announcement by President Obama

Disability Blog - a blog about the latest disability-related news, information and trends.

President Obama describes important updates to ADA

Toxic Ketchup: Six Workers Die in India

2010-07-23T12:16:54Z

Okay, you've most likely heard about the most dangerous jobs. Fisherman, logger, farmer/rancher, construction worker, firefighter and roofer are typically listed amongst the most dangerous jobs in America. A recent tragedy in India is a stark reminder that even some of the most seemingly innocuous jobs pose a threat to the safety of workers. It is important that workers understand the safety hazards they are exposed to and they should be trained on proper protocol should something go wrong. Often, a bad situation gets worse when workers try to help a co-worker in danger, as is the case in this story...

6 People Drown in Giant Vat of Ketchup was reported last week by SafetyNewsAlert.com. Apparently, a worker slipped and fell into a 20-foot deep tank of fermenting vegetables. Five workers then jumped in to save her. All were overcome by fumes and drowned. Two more workers were hospitalized. Tragic.

Disability Ramping: Consider Aluminum Over Wood

2010-07-21T17:34:07Z

Does your claimant need disability ramping installed to access their home? Having ramping or other home modifications installed for injured workers is a big responsibility. And costly. The next time you need to purchase or install ramping for a claimant, Cara Barde, President of Total Medical Solutions, encourages you to consider the benefits of aluminum over wood:

Aluminum Ramping:

Maintenace Free
Does not rust or decay (aluminum lasts for 100+ years)
Easy assembly with minimum tools
No building permit required
Can easily be expanded, reconfigured or moved
Aluminum ramping is an asset that can be reused, resold or rented
Installed in less than an hour!
No environmental impact

Wood Ramping:

Requires regular maintenance
Will rot or decay over time
Must be installed by a contractor or carpenter (increases costs)
Requires a building permit (increases costs and time)
Reconfiguration must be made by demolition and reconstruction
No resale value; could actually lower the value of the home
Typical installation takes 2 to 3 days
Could include dangerous chemicals or applied treatments

As you can see, there are many benifits to using aluminum vs. wood disability ramping. In addition to the benefits of using aluminum ramping as outlined above, when you purchase your ramping through Total Medical Solutions, you can:

"Bank" your aluminum ramping - when it is no longer being used by your claimant, the insurance carrier can reuse the ramping for future claimants for a substantial cost savings
Rent aluminum ramping for temporary needs
Reconfigure aluminum ramping sections to fit any home
Easily move aluminum ramping to a new home if your claimant moves
Rest assured that the aluminum ramping we sell is dependable, durable and American made

For more information about aluminum disability ramping, anytime, anywhere you need access, please contact Total Medical Solutions at 1-800-700-9393 or visit www.NewTMS.com

Two Teens Killed in Silo Accident: Mystery? or Not

2010-07-16T18:23:54Z

Today's blog post is directing you to Workers' Comp Insider where Julie Ferguson did a fantastic job earlier this week of pointing out the shortcomings in the way the media reported a recent farm accident involving two teen boys. Read Two farming teens killed in silo: media is mystified. I agree with Julie, rather than classifying accidents such as these as "mysteries" or "freak accidents" the media should rather emphasize the importance of proper safety precautions in order to minimize the risk of future accidents and deaths.

In this case the two teens, one who worked on the Michigan farm for 4 years, and another teen who had only worked on the farm for a month, were found dead inside a silo that had been used to store a molasses mixture for cow feed. The teens were supposed to be washing the exterior. A ladder was found on the inside along with the two teens dead bodies.

Cara Barde Says: "Our Employees are Big Fat Total Losers!"

2010-07-14T15:09:21Z

Cara Barde, President of Total Medical Solutions is proud of her employees. So why is she calling them Big Fat Total Losers? Because they are! A story on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel yesterday confirmed it. Read Sanford company gets leaner - in a positive way.

Total Medical Solutions launches it's very own Biggest Loser contest.

These days, employees at Total Medical Solutions are talking about weight. That's because they have launched their very own version of The Biggest Loser contest. Twenty five (25) out of seventy one (71) employees signed up for the contest and after 12 weeks have lost a total of 400 pounds!

Incentives vary, but success is total.

Nancy Perez, Home Health Account Coordinator for Total Medical Solutions, found that being accountable to her teammates made all the difference for her. She has lost 37 pounds. The fact that her teammates are counting on her provides the incentive she needs to stay focused and committed to the program.

Paulette Howard, also a Home Health Account Coordinator, has lost 47 pounds. She admits that at first she wasn't really interested in the contest. She had tried Weight Watchers before and found that it really didn't work for her. She did, however, jump at the chance for a cash prize. After getting into the program she found that cash really wasn't the thing that motivated her. She says, "It's the camaraderie that I've developed with my new 'loser' friends."

Kevin Glennon, Vice President of Clinical Services for TMS, often lectures company executives about the added costs of obesity in workers' compensation claims. He has lost 68 pounds.

Wellness programs: a good way to address obesity?

As the writer of the Orlando Sentinel article points out, obesity is a big problem for Americans. Obesity rates have steadily climbed over the past few decades and it is well documented that obesity complicates other health risks and issues. Personalized corporate wellness programs like these are likely to become more popular as corporate America embraces the idea coupled with incentives provided by the new healthcare reform.