EK Perspectives Newsletter: October 2010

"I wanted to let you know that our staff thinks very highly of the customer service you provide when responding to their inquiries and requests for assistance. Thank you for your help and support."
-Risk Manager/Claims Manager, a Fortune 500 Company

Check the Status of California Treatment Guidelines, ACOEM and DWC (MTUS)

For California Legislation Under Consideration 2010, download here.

For Enacted Legislation 2010, download here.

For Active Legislation 2010, download here.

About EK Health...

Headquartered in San Jose, CA, EK Health Services, Inc. is a specialty workers' compensation managed care company providing Utilization Review, Case Management, Early Claims Intervention, Return to Work Programs, Bill Review, Ergonomic Assessments/Training, Outcomes Management, Interpretation/Translation Services, Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement services. As a URAC accredited company, EK Health is committed to a higher level of quality service than is mandated by the state of California. EK Health provides services in all 50 states.

urac-accredited

Learn more about EK Health Services...

Our Clients...

Clients include the State of California, several municipalities, a Fortune 500 company, the largest insurance carrier in Wisconsin, a leading insurance company in New Jersey, more than 30 customers of various industries and size.

Questions? Comments?

Please contact Sharon Sun, E-News Editor

EK Health Services Inc.
992 S. De Anza Blvd #101
San Jose, CA 95129
Ph: 877.861.1595
Fax: 408.973.2508

Did You Know?

ONE DAY EDUCATIONAL EVENT SPONSORED BY EK HEALTH:

"Understanding the Phamacology of Chronic Pain".
For more details, please click here. Download pdf version here.

The Importance of the "Rationale" Component of the UR Report

by David Ehrenfeld, MD
EK Health Services' Director of Medical Quality Assurance

“Physician Reviewer’s Rationale” is separate from “Treatment Guidelines Used”. Rationale is a terse synopsis/synthesis of the clinical and historical factors. It explains the “Why?” of the Recommendation; it is the connection between the Treatment Guideline(s) used and the Recommendation. This is of importance and value to the insurer as well as the requesting physician, and perhaps even a Workers’ Compensation judge at a later date.

One example would be where there was request for more PT beyond the amount suggested by the guideline that would be quoted later in the report. This instance would be while analyzing the case, you see that the worker had not shown significant improvement with the first 5 visits of PT but after visit 7 of 8 had documented significant improvement in both expression of decreased pain AND documented increases in ROM, lifting etc.. whereas for this hypothetical case 10 visits over 8 weeks would be the cited ODG guideline,

To read full article, please click here.

LEGAL-EASE: Is there a Request for Authorization form in our future?

by Steve Kline, Esq.
EK Health Services' Legal Counsel

Last April, the Department of Workers’ Compensation held a utilization stakeholder meeting in San Francisco. At that time there was discussion concerning the adoption of a Request for Authorization form that would be mandated by the DWC for ease-of-use by requesting physicians and utilization review organizations. Of course, many in the room had great trepidations about what kind of form would be created and the complications that such a form would create for all interested parties.

To read full article, please click here.

Ergonomic Tip of the Month

Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts

-by Kim Granata-Clark, MS in Human Factors and Ergonomics, Ergonomic Specialist

Keyboard shortcuts are important to practice to give your hands a break from using the mouse during the day. Use two hands when doing keyboard shortcuts that involve 2 keys.

To set up keyboard shortcuts for Gmail, click your settings button on the top of the page, click keyboard shortcuts on, then page down and save your changes. Refresh the page by clicking at the top tool bar versus the refresh icon on the page. You can get a list of keyboard shortcuts on the settings page. Below are a few of the basics.

To read full article, please click here.

To make a request, you may refer online by clicking here or contact Alice at 877-861-1595, or email amelendez@ekhealth.com
Submit Your Ergonomics Question Now...

Refer A Friend...

We are happy to say, that our business has grown over the years by referrals from current customers. We would be happy for you to share our news with a friend. Send an HTML version of this message to a friend.

EK HEALTH

Specializing in Workers' Compensation

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