Annual Seminar Session Overview

The annual seminar was created to educate all who participate in the Idaho workers’ compensation system regarding current rules, procedures, and to provide an opportunity for dialogue and networking on a variety of timely topics.

This year’s sessions will include:

KEYNOTE

Claims Advocacy
Dr. Claire Muselman – CM Advising

Hear from Dr. Claire C. Muselman on what individuals and organizations can do to develop an effective care advocacy model. Learn to apply knowledge of human connection and language processes across various workers’ compensation system elements from multiple perspectives. Attendees will develop knowledge, skills, and judgment around human connections that facilitate the ability to work collaboratively. Dr. Claire will share how to apply practical communication strategies to individuals whose lives have been impacted by workplace injuries, arming team members with valuable tools and technology, and hiring and retaining diverse talent.

BREAK OUT SESSIONS

Ethics

Joe Pirtle – Idaho State Bar Council

Considerations for Returning to the Workplace After Experiencing Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Addresses the response of the adult brain to concussion/mTBI. Specific areas to be discussed include typical treatment strategies, recovery timeframes, patient goals, and difficulties some patients experience when returning back into the workplace. Special emphasis will be placed on how employers can establish and implement appropriate accommodation plans for returning workers.

Dr. Caroline Faure, EdD – Idaho State University

Brent Faure, MS; ATC-L –Portneuf Medical Center’s Concussion Clinic

NCCI Update on the Idaho WC System and Our Latest WC Research

Learning Objectives:

Obtain an overview of the Idaho workers compensation system and expert perspectives
View the latest NCCI research on issues impacting the Idaho and countrywide WC systems such as inflation, legislative trends, the pandemic, and key system cost drivers

Todd Johnson –National Council on Compensation Insurance

Labor Market Surveys and Workers’ Compensation

The term labor market survey (LMS) is often misused or misunderstood. Based on peer review and professional literature and experience, participants to this presentation will develop clear and specific definitions about LMS, the methodology used to conduct one, and at the application of its outcomes. Some questions addressed during the presentation are:

What is and is not an LMS?
Why might an LMS be performed in a workers’ compensation case as opposed to using other labor market and occupational source?
How do the results of the LMS combine (or not) with other labor market and occupational information?

Amber Maxwell – Maxwell Vocational and Counseling Services, LLC.

Occupational Health Visits Using On-Demand Virtual Care

In 2022, St. Luke’s began a pilot with two employers to offer onsite virtual visits for work injury evaluation. Dr. Ruth will share what St. Luke’s learned from this experience as well as the response from employers and patients. A demonstration of the workflow will be available following the presentation.

Timothy M. Ruth, MD – St. Luke’s Primary Care Services and Consumer Access & Experience

How Recent Decisions Impact Adjusting Workers’ Compensation Claims

This presentation will highlight recent decisions and provide a practical application for the day-to-day decision making in adjusting Idaho claims.

Nicole O’Toole – Hawley Troxell

Mark Peterson – Hawley Troxell

Using Active Listening to Identify Other’s Interests and Needs

Participants will learn how to use active listening and other communication and conflict resolution skills to discover other’s interests and needs to improve collaboration.

Jennifer Poole – Industrial Commission

Work Place Mental Injuries

Sarah DeBoard Marion, PhD – St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Hospital

Case Law Review

	Matthew Vook – Peterson, Parkinson, & Arnold, PLLC
	Matthew Pappas – Anderson, Julian & Hull, LLP