I write this reflecting on the flurry of news around recent Ebola activity. There isn’t one of us in the healthcare risk management profession who wants our organization to be the subject of unfavorable news headlines, and it’s important to take le…

On Wednesday, October 8, I will be presenting at the 2014 Business Insurance Workers Comp & Safety Virtual Conference. I certainly hope you will be able to join us for this great event where I will speak about Affordable Care Act (ACA) advancemen…

The rate at which hospitals and health systems are acquiring physician practices and hiring physicians from private practice continues to increase steadily. In the 2012 annual report published by Merritt Hawkins, it is reported that solo practices …

Medical directors with California-based hospital systems recently met for a discussion focused on the quality of medical care provided to Sedgwick workers’ compensation clients. We covered many areas, including provider scoring, fraud, legal challe…

Last week at the California Workers’ Compensation and Risk Conference, we were fortunate to hear James “Big Game” Worthy, NBA Hall of Fame member and three time NBA champion, deliver the keynote address. The standing-room-only crowd was treated to a …

More and more, our clients and other risk managers and human resource directors in the industry ask how they can ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA/ADAAA). Sedgwick has sponsored the latest Risk Scenario, produced by Ri…

When I began discussing medical marijuana as an emerging workers’ compensation issue more than five years ago, it had only been legalized in 12 states. In 2012, Colorado and Washington legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use. Today, 23 s…

Having just returned from the G31000 annual conference where I had a chance to present and participate in a panel discussion, I’d like to share my thoughts on current risk standards and a bit on where we seem to be headed. Full disclosure, this forum…

On August 13, 2014 Miami-Dade 11th Circuit Judge Jorge Cueto in Florida Workers’ Advocates v. State of Florida held that the Florida Workers’ Compensation Act, as amended effective October 1, 2003, is unconstitutional as long as it contains the exclu…

Providing safe care to children and avoiding liability is a top concern for most emergency department (ED) providers and facilities. ED use by children under age six is frequent, accounting for more than 30 million encounters and 24 percent of annu…

You need to be prepared when they do! Because we are the leave administrator for many large employers, since the first of the year, Sedgwick has received an increased number of requests to assist our clients with Department of Labor (DOL) inquires …

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA), courts and differing points of view are all mentioned in the same sentence it should not surprise anyone, should it? If you watch Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show, he has a regular feature called "Pros and Cons" of…

Stress in the workplace is a public health issue that the World Health Organization called the “health epidemic of the 21st century.” According to the 2013 Stress in the Workplace national survey by the American Psychological Association, 65% of U.S…

I think everyone reading this blog has been touched by alcohol or substance abuse in their lifetime, whether personally or through the experience of an acquaintance, a family member, a close friend, a classmate or a colleague. We know the dangers of …

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has gotten a lot of national attention lately due to several disturbing events on military bases. However, PTSD is not limited to veterans and those who have been exposed to war. It is a complex disorder that can…