Exploring the Unique Challenges Faced by Injured Workers

This session will explore the challenges faced by the injured worker and the need for all stakeholders to be aware of it and work together to share information and treat the employee with compassion and empathy.

When a worker is injured in the workplace, that individual faces a number of challenges on the road to recovery, not the least of which is their mental health. Increasingly, employees have been shown to bear the burden of a generally negative view toward injured workers from multiple stakeholders, including providers, employers and claims professionals. This stigma puts the already fragile injured worker in an even worse mental state and includes feelings of guilt, regret and wrong-doing. This session will explore the challenges faced by the injured worker and the need for all stakeholders to be aware of it and work together to share information and treat the employee with compassion and empathy. We will also delve into the need for an empathetic and holistic approach to claims management.

Attendee Takeaways:

1. Description of various ERM implementation models and strategies
2. Show participants how ERM fits within an organization’s governance and how to sell it internally
3. Offer a real-world example of how an entity implemented ERM using multi-department collaboration

Ms. Wells joined Johns Eastern in 2006 as a Senior Adjuster, and has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. She was promoted to Claims Supervisor in 2007, to Claims Manager in 2009, and to Director of TPA Operations in 2014.

Ms. Wells is experienced in handling city and county governments, school boards, municipal transit authorities, hospitals, and Florida religious organizations. As Director, she is responsible for the overall operational production of the workers’ compensation and property & casualty TPA units for self-insured clients.

Ms. Wells is a Board Certified All-Lines Adjuster in the State of Florida. She is a member of the Association of Workers’ Compensation Claims Professionals. Ms. Wells obtained her Certification of Workers’ Compensation Litigation management designation and her Associate in Claims (AIC) designation. She is currently pursuing her Associate in Management (AIM) designation through The Institutes.

Silvia Sacalis, BS, PharmD, provides clinical leadership and strategic direction as Vice President of Clinical Services at Healthesystems. Her healthcare experience and clinical expertise span the PBM, retail pharmacy and managed care environments. Leveraging her technology background, clinical skills and management expertise, she helps develop and operationalize strategic clinical initiatives to help workers’ compensation insurance payers maximize the impact of a pharmacy benefit management program. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership roles in which she provided oversight of clinical services teams, the development of clinical programs, and integration of analytics technology coupled with clinical consultative support. Dr. Sacalis is a national thought leader and contributor to various industry presentations, publications and interviews.

Dr. Sacalis received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Doctorate of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Bill  has served in that capacity for the past 20 years. He specializes in employee group insurance programs and is responsible for the city’s traditional risk management programs.