What physicians, attorneys, and claims professionals need to know A diagnosis answers what condition is present. A causation analysis asks why it occurred – and whether the evidence supports linking it to a claimed event or exposure. Those are different questions, and a defensible opinion must answer both in the correct order. At a glance: […]
MedicoLegal Practice Essentials – Impairment and Disability
The Essential Distinction Every Medicolegal Physician, Attorney, Claims Professional, and Case Manager Should Understand Why the Distinction Matters Few terms generate more avoidable confusion in medicolegal practice than impairment and disability. Physicians use them when assessing permanent loss and work capacity; attorneys use them when analyzing entitlement and damages; claims professionals use them when administering […]
Assuring Accurate Diagnosis
Physicians are advised; “first, do no harm.” But let’s be frank: care providers make incorrect diagnoses, and not just ‘once in a blue moon:’ Mayo Clinic found up to 26% of medical diagnosis by primary care providers were wrong! Yet, having an accurate diagnosis is essential to clinical care and case management. On March 6, […]
Assuring Accurate Impairment Ratings
It is imperative that all impairment evaluations result in accurate, unbiased ratings. On February 12, 2019 we offered a webinar focusing on achieving accurate ratings. Click here to view a recording of the presentation. Click here to provide feedback on the presentation. The goals of the webinar were: Explain why it is imperative to obtain […]
IME Reports – Assuring Excellence
On February 21, 2018 at 3:00 p.m., a webinar focused on enhancing the quality of IME (independent medical evaluation) reports. I was joined by Brock Curry, CEO of Premier Physicians Management, LLC and Ryan Soriano, Esquire. Unfortunately, many IME reports are of poor quality and/or biased, the evaluations do not reflect best practices, and quality management is […]
Merci beaucoup – Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier – Your portray what we dream of achieving
It is so wonderful when you meet other colleagues who share your values and perspectives, and are supportive. Over a year ago at a SunLife @Sunlife event I met Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier who is a practicing psychologist in Canada and experienced senior leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical, counselling, and workplace psychology. […]
MegaSession video: “Achieving Shorter Disability Durations and Better Outcomes”
On December 7, 2017, at the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference, Dr. Brigham had the opportunity to speak in the MegaSession on “Living Abled! Achieving Shorter Disability Durations and Better Outcomes.” Medical providers, attorneys, insurers, employers, and an individual’s coping and resiliency strengths all contribute to determining why people with similar injuries or illnesses […]
Living Aloha and Pono
On September 27, 2013, I was blessed with the opportunity to be the keynote conference for the Western Occupational Health Conference. I felt honored to serve in this role; it was also challenging. The following are my remarks. “`I am sharing you my perspectives of “Living Aloha and Pono” not as a Hawaiian (which obviously […]
Physician Practice and Pono
On May 29, 2013, the Hawaii Prescription Drug Summit focused on the challenges Hawaii is facing with prescription drugs, particularly those associated with opioids and physician dispensing. Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters was the keynote speaker – he was fabulous, as always. I was asked to do the closing session, titled “Physician Practice and […]
Unfit for Work – Startling Rise of Disability
National Public Radio is airing an excellent series on the epidemic of disabling, a quiet epidemic resulting in tremendous costs (human and financial). Unfit for Work – The startling rise of disability in America is not to be missed. Chana Joffe-Walt and her team present their findings in a one hour program on This American […]
