Occupational Medicine Leaders Discuss Opioids and Pain Management at WOHC
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) October 07, 2013 -- At the 57th Annual Western Occupational Health Conference hosted by the Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (WOEMA) September 25-28 , Robert Goldberg, MD, FACOEM, brought together fellow leaders in occupational medicine for a well-attended panel discussion on opioids and pain management.
Dr. Goldberg presented information on the size and scope of the opioid epidemic in the U.S and moderated a discussion that focused on the appropriate administration and monitoring of opioid drug therapy to achieve clinically meaningful improvement in function while minimizing risks for injured workers. Panel members Lee S. Glass, MD, and Kurt T. Hegmann, MD, MPH, provided evidence-based information about screening patients for opioid dependency risks, monitoring methods, therapy evaluation criteria and guidance on when and how to discontinue opioid therapy.
“The stakes are high for everyone when injured workers suffer painful injuries. Physicians can begin to create a better future for injured workers, their families and employers by practicing evidence-based medicine,” said Dr. Goldberg. “It was rewarding to see the audience fully engaged in the discussion.”
WOEMA is a regional component of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medical Association (ACOEM). Dr. Goldberg is a past ACOEM president and chief medical officer at Healthesystems — a national pharmacy and ancillary benefits management provider that specializes in workers’ compensation. He was one of the original contributors to the first edition ACOEM Practice Guidelines and currently serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors and chairs the Ergonomics Committee.
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About WOEMA
The purpose and mission of the Western Occupational Health Conference and the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association is to promote and protect the health of people at work and in their environment through preventive service, clinical care, research, and evaluation. WOEMA is a regional component of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medical Association, and is dedicated to high-quality medical care and ethical principles governing the practice of occupational medicine. For more information contact http://www.woema.org.
About Robert Goldberg, MD, FACOEM
Robert Goldberg, MD, FACOEM, is the chief medical officer at Healthesystems, and is board certified in occupational medicine. He served on the faculty and planning committee for the Western Occupational Health Conference and is recognized as a leading authority on occupational medicine and musculoskeletal injuries. His extensive interdisciplinary background includes 25 years of experience in diverse roles that include treating injured workers, training physicians, conducting research, consulting and providing clinical direction to the development of evidence-based medical guidelines and workers’ compensation public policy initiatives. Dr. Goldberg has played a leadership role in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for many years and is a past president. He currently chairs the Ergonomics Committee and serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors. In addition, Dr. Goldberg was a longtime member of the California Medical Association’s Workers' Compensation Technical Advisory Committee.
About Healthesystems
Healthesystems is a specialty provider of innovative medical cost management solutions for the workers’ compensation industry. The company's comprehensive product portfolio includes a leading pharmacy benefit management (PBM) program, expert clinical review services, and a revolutionary ancillary benefits management (ABM) solution for prospectively managing ancillary medical services such as durable medical equipment (DME), home health, transportation and translation services. By leveraging innovation, powerful technology, clinical expertise and enhanced workflow automation tools. Healthesystems provides clients with flexible programs that reduce the total cost of medical care while increasing the quality of care for injured workers. To learn more about Healthesystems or to sign up for the company's newsletters visit http://www.healthesystems.com or email info(at)healthesystems(dot)com.
Christine Duffy, Healthesystems, http://www.healthesystems.com/, 813-367-2737, [email protected]
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