Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Is Maryland Voc Rehab Changing?

  I have worked in the Maryland Workers’ Compensation arena for around 20 years now. I (like         you, I am sure!) have seen many changes and have proudly been a part of numerous transitions.
However, it seems that Maryland is currently moving away from its focus on returning the injured worker to suitable gainful employment. Now, it appears, cases are settled more often than not – at the potential expense of the injured worker. 
I have had the luxury of working with many great professionals understand the benefit of keeping the injured worker’s focus on return to work from the date of injury. Short-term benefits include having a concrete goal and fending off depression. Long-term benefits include increased self-esteem, a more complete medical recovery, and one less person on public assistance.
Typically, it is pretty clear from the first report of injury that the injured worker is or is not going back to work. Developing a plan for return to work as soon as possible will make a case easier to manage, possibly contributing to a quicker, cheaper resolution.
Under the changing system, addressing vocational needs of an injured worker is no longer the norm.  There are a number of reasons for this, and likely the most salient is a matter of dollars and cents.
No one gets paid until the case is settled, including the injured worker.  I get it.  We all get it. However, it need not take longer or excessive cost to ensure that the injured worker gets, at a minimum, some job seeking skills training, a resume, and labor market information if he cannot return to work with his employer.
Large referral sources have told me that they are no longer offering vocational services at any point, let alone before MMI and settlement. Instead, they are waiting for plaintiff counsel to demand it and most don’t. 
Not long ago, not one Commissioner would even have considered allowing a settlement without RTW being addressed. It was commonly understood that medical rehabilitation alone was not enough to return an injured worker to his or her best level of functioning. What has changed?
Are we now giving them money and send them on their way - medically rehabilitated and with a fistful of dollars that will not last and without a way to support themselves and their family?
I am at a loss to understand how such a cutting edge and considered Workers’ Compensation System could now be so mundane and indifferent toward its constituents. Being isolated as I am in my relatively rural location, I was unaware that the issue was as a more widespread.
Recently, I have found that other colleagues have noticed the same tendency. An additional, somewhat disturbing  trend  is  that insurance companies are primarily referring to a handful of large Rehab Providers to the near exclusion of small or sole proprietors.
I have received only plaintiff generated referrals over the past two years. Until recently, I assumed this was MY problem and have only now found that other providers of similar size are experiencing the same issue.
I cannot help but think that this is not in the best interest of Maryland’s injured workers. A variety of approaches, personalities, and standard operating procedures ensures a more personalized and effective relationship with the injured worker.
My colleagues and I are deeply troubled by this change and hope to initiate at least a dialogue that will spark a change for the better treatment of Maryland’s injured workers. We are, as a group, committed to providing any knowledge, expertise, or effort required to ensure that vocational rehabilitation is provided to our injured employees and taxpayers in the State of Maryland.


Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
Certified Disability Management Specialist
Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile:  410.444.1989                                                     
Let’s Connect: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog
If you haven’t already, please check out our two signature products – used together they can be powerful tools for settlement!:



FYI:

I handle Delmarva Peninsula and the area immediately around the Chesapeake Bay, I work well with both defense and plaintiff attorneys and can handle any file in Baltimore or DC if requested – I never bill more than 2 hours travel.

Pat Highcove and Dane Crook are both based in Mary and each have over 20 years of experience and excellent reputations with both defense and plaintiff attorneys.  Primarily they handle Baltimore and DC, but can do parts of Western MD, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Western NJ if needed.

We also are partnering with Kim Sellers, a nurse case manager based in Mechanicsburg,  PA who covers most of Pennsylvania and Maryland!  She has tons of CAT experience in addition to routine medical management.



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Maryland Joint Task Force Conference June 14, 2016

Please use Warwick or Glynn Falls Entrances to Coppin State University

CCM: 4.0 General (Ethics pending)
CRC Approval: 3.25 General 1.0 Ethics
CDMS Approval: 2.5 General 2.0 Ethics
MSRP Mandatory CEUs 2.0


Download PDF:

Location

Talon Center
2500 W. North Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21216-3698

Area Driving Directions

From the North

  • Take I-95 South to Baltimore Beltway I-695 West
  • Follow I-695 West to Exit 23 (Rt. 83 South)
  • Take I-83 South to Exit 6 (North Avenue)
  • Turn Right and go to 2500 West North Avenue

From the South

  • Take I-95 North to Baltimore Exit 50 (North Caton Ave.)
  • Please note that Caton Ave. turns into Hilton St, then Hilton Pkwy, then Hilton St again
  • Turn right on North Avenue from Hilton St
  • Follow for a few blocks to 2500 West North Avenue

From the East

  • Take US Rt 40 West (Pulaski Hwy) to North Fulton St
  • Pulaski Hwy turns into Fayette St
  • Turn right on North Fulton St and follow to North Avenue.
  • Turn left on North Avenue and go to the 2500 West Block

From the West

  • Take I-70 East to I-695 South and follow to Exit 15 (Rt 40 East).
  • From Rt 40, turn right onto Hilton Parkway-Hilton Parkway eventually turns into Hilton St.
  • Turn right on North Avenue and follow to the 2500 West Block

Drop Off/Unloading

  1. Parking spaces will be available at the Talon entrance for you to temporarily park while you unload your displays and materials. Look for the "Unload" signs.
  2. After you have unloaded, Parking Attendants will direct you to parking Lots F, G or H. All are within a short walking distance of the Talon Center.

Campus Map

Campus Map PDF Download (Requires Adobe Reader)
1 CC - Coppin Center Plaza9 STC - Science & Technology Center
2 DA - Daley Residence Hall11 JT - J. Millard Tawes Center
3 DE - Dedmond Residence Hall12 MC - Miles Connor Administration
4 TC - Talon Center13 PJ - Percy Julian Science
5 FM - Frances Murphy Research14 PM - Parlett Moore Library
6 GJ - Grace Hill Jacobs15 Quad - Campus Square
7 HHSB - Health & Human Services Building16 JJ - James Weldon Johnson Auditorium
8 ECDS - Early Childhood Demo. Suite
Facebook | Twitter | PinterestMary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
Certified Disability Management Specialist
Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile:  410.444.1989                                                     
Let’s Connect: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog
If you haven’t already, please check out our two signature products – used together they can be powerful tools for settlement!:



FYI:

I handle Delmarva Peninsula and the area immediately around the Chesapeake Bay, I work well with both defense and plaintiff attorneys and can handle any file in Baltimore or DC if requested – I never bill more than 2 hours travel.

Pat Highcove and Dane Crook are both based in Mary and each have over 20 years of experience and excellent reputations with both defense and plaintiff attorneys.  Primarily they handle Baltimore and DC, but can do parts of Western MD, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Western NJ if needed.

We also are partnering with Kim Sellers, a nurse case manager based in Mechanicsburg,  PA who covers most of Pennsylvania and Maryland!  She has tons of CAT experience in addition to routine medical management.

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