An Approach to Workplace Concussions
Oct. 17, 1 – 2 p.m., Weyerhaeuser
Danielle Erb, M.D.
The class will define concussions, including typical signs and symptoms. It will explain the time frame for diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and improvement. You will learn about various types of therapies and treatments and what to expect from them, as well as how they will help the employee return to work. Discuss ways to ease the return-to-work process and timing, and learn what is and what is not a red flag with concussions.
Appellate Update
Oct. 17, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Greig Lowell
Join us for an informative, entertaining, and irreverent journey through the latest case decisions from the Oregon courts and the Workers’ Compensation Board. Course and scope; medical issues; time loss; case processing; and the interplay of rules and laws will be discussed – be ready for a fast-paced and fun presentation covering these topics. The ever-changing world of workers’ compensation will be broken down into the key concepts you need to know.
Avoiding 873s and Claims Reporting Penalties and Supplemental Disability Benefits
Getting Important Forms and Paperwork Completed Right the First Time
Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Weyerhaeuser
Garilee Brown, Tawny Bish, Jill Westerberg
Insurers, we will discuss how to properly complete various 1502s and Notice of Closures to avoid 873s and the Delinquency Report. We will discuss the importance of a completed 801 and benefits of an 827. We will also discuss where the claims penalties come from and how to prevent them. In addition, this class will help summarize the reimbursement program that provides wage replacement for injured workers with multiple jobs. What is the program? Is it being under-utilized? How is it administered? How does reimbursement work?
Building Bridges to Gap Language Chasm
Oct. 18, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Veronica Murray, Erick Kountz
We all agree everyone matters in the workplace, but how do we reach people when our everyday way of communicating can be a struggle? Many of us provide services to people who have learned English as a second language. This class will provide an interactive discussion that will not only help spotlight struggles, but also offer suggestions and ideas to overcome such difficulties. This class will be lively, fun, and provide many facts to help bring to light the different social groups in the workplace and how we can combine our efforts to build strong communication and increase satisfaction for everyone.
Common Pitfalls and Emerging Trends for Oregon Employers
Oct. 17, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Bob Hamre, David Waki
This presentation offers perspectives on employer coverage issues. Each presenter will share services that are available to employers and address the emerging workers’ compensation issues many employers’ face. Speakers will also answer audience questions and address tips to avoid common mistakes. Both employers and insurance professionals will find information to assist them in their work during this interactive session.
Disputes, Disagreements, and Dogs
Oct. 17, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m., Weyerhauser
Jessica Loman, Tasha Fisher, Steven Tacy
The Medical Resolution Team will provide a detailed training
on basic billing for worker’ compensation, claims without homes/Form 827,
alternative dispute resolution, types of disputes MRT processes, and provide
tips and tricks for avoiding disputes.
Effective Continuity Planning
When Your Disaster Planning Has Flown the COOP
Oct. 17, 1 – 2 p.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Jessica Loman, Tasha Fisher, Steven Tacy
What would you do if an earthquake, fire, server malfunction, or health pandemic occurred at your organization? You have very little time to evacuate. Do you know where you are supposed to go and what you should take with you? Do you know how to resume operations once the initial crisis has ended? This session will provide straightforward steps to help you assess your risks; identify critical business functions; back-up your data; create a crisis communication plan; and plan table-top exercises and live drills.
Keynote Session: Oregon’s Economic Forecast
Oct. 18, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Mark McMullen
Oregon State Economist and Director of the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Mark McMullen will give his insights about how Oregon’s economy is doing and what the future may hold for workers and employers.
Marijuana Legalization Update Across the US
Oct. 17, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Susan Schulte
Marijuana legalization continues to be a hot topic in Oregon. Many states have legalized marijuana in some form, and there is a lot of speculation around federal activity. We will discuss the status of marijuana legalization; 2019 update on legislation across the country; reimbursements for medical marijuana; an update on court cases regarding marijuana reimbursement; and an update on any federal issues and proposals regarding marijuana.
Non-opioid Strategies in Pain Management
Oct. 17, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Weyerhaeuser
David Harris, DO
This presentation will explore non-narcotic pain management strategies, including classic adjuvant therapies and new developments in pain management. We will review treatment strategies, including medication, physical, and interventional approaches. Where possible, we will consider research results regarding treatment efficacy and cost.
Opening Session: The State of Oregon Workers' Compensation
Oct. 17, 8 – 9 a.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Lou Savage, Sally Coen
Kick off the conference with a warm welcome from our WCD Administrator Lou Savage and Deputy Administrator Sally Coen. Get an update on Oregon workers’ compensation since last year’s conference and current issues that could affect you. Lou and Sally will also discuss what the division sees on the horizon and ways to provide input to determine the course of workers’ compensation in our great state.
Opioids and Workers’ Compensation
Oct. 17, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m., Weyerhauser
Susan Schulte
Opioid addiction and overdoses have reached epidemic levels over the past decade. According to a January 2019 update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11.4 million Americans misused prescription opioids in 2017, resulting in an estimate of more than 130 deaths every day from an opioid-related overdose. In this session, we will focus on opioid prescription costs and utilization rates on a countrywide basis. We will review prescription drug statistics; opioid claim statistics; concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines; changes in opioid prescribing patterns; and oxycodone pill equivalents to measure the amount of opioids being taken. We will also look at legislative initiatives at the federal level about the opioid epidemic across the country.
Oregon's Return-to-Work Programs: Not too Good to be True
Oct. 17, 1:00 – 3:15 p.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Tim Kessel
This presentation describes the legislative purpose and program benefits of Oregon’s Employer-at-Injury Program and the Preferred Worker Program. Participants will review case studies that provide real examples of the programs in action. This training will also help participants determine how the programs can help their organization.
Protecting our Most Valuable Asset
Importance of Safety Programs for Small Employers
Oct. 18, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., Weyerhaeuser
Cliff Butler
Many businesses spend an extraordinary amount of time focused on increasing production; improving quality and services; and meeting cost goals, while one of the key contributing factors to profitability goes unaddressed until someone gets injured. The safety of employees’ affects every aspect of business from quality to profit. This session will share a collection of employee engagement activities that have lowered injury numbers, sustained employee morale, and established a joint sense of ownership in the future of the company.
Return-to-Work: Success Stories
Oct. 17, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Brian Nease
Worksite modification provides tools, equipment, and worksite redesigns to allow preferred workers to overcome injury-caused limitations, while performing their work duties. Come learn about worksite modifications and the unique situations and successes that the Preferred Worker Program has helped with.
Total Worker Health 101
Oct. 18, 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Dede Montgomery
This class is the pre-requisite course within the Oregon Total Worker Health Alliance curriculum. The Oregon Total Worker Health Alliance creates and provides consistent and reproducible training that is research-based and supports current practices. Alliance members include the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences/Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, SAIF, and Oregon OSHA. You will learn how to define terms and concepts and identify five defining elements of Total Worker Health. Discuss how organizations can implement Total Worker Health and develop applicable next steps.
Using DCBS Data for Analysis and Research
Oct. 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Donald Gallogly, Hannah Osinga
The first part of this presentation will introduce the DCBS Research Team – who they are, what they do, and how the team supports the mission of the agency. Topics will include Oregon’s open data portal: DATA.OREGON.GOV; statistics and report resources; and how to make special data requests. In the second half, we will share a lot of data about workers’ compensation claims and insurance. Some of that data is published in reports; some is available through Oregon’s open data portal; and some is available by request only. This session will highlight some data from each area and show examples of how SAIF has used it in its research.
WC101: From Injury to Closure
Oct. 17, 9:15 – 11:30 a.m., Mt. St. Helens Ballroom
Jaylee Hlad-Mosgrove, Dan Schmelling, Tarren Melton
Tune in to this class and learn how to successfully navigate the workers’ compensation claims process. This interactive session takes participants on a journey from filing a claim to acceptance and beyond.
When Sick Time, Family Leave, and ADA Collide
Oct. 17, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m., Crown-Zellerbach
Nicole Elgin
With the overlap between sick time laws; family and medical leave protections; and disability accommodation requirements, managing employee absences is increasingly complicated. Many employers are familiar with their obligation to return employees to work after a workers’ compensation injury, but are uncertain of their obligations in returning employees to work after other types of leave. All too often, employers struggle with how to distinguish an employee calling in “sick” from a leave of absence covered by state or federal family and medical leave laws. To further complicate matters, employees might provide enough information during these conversations to require the employer to engage in the ADA’s interactive accommodation process.
Who is an Independent Contractor?
Oct. 17, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Weyerhaeuser
Bob Hamre
This class will outline the differences of an independent contractor as defined by ORS 670.600. We will look at some of the important distinctions in the workers compensation law. We’ll ask key questions about the independent contractor as follows: Does the independent contractor have an independently established business, are they free from direction and control, do they provide their own equipment and tools, do they work for other people and do they have a skill set in the work being performed?