WOEMA is a regional component of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), and is dedicated to high quality medical care and ethical principles governing the practice of occupational medicine.
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CME Webinars
WOEMA's Education Committee is offering a new series of CME Webinars on topics relevant to the practice of occupational & environmental medicine. These briefings can be accessed by calling a toll-free 800 number and viewing the Powerpoint presentation using your Internet browser from your own computer. WOEMA members will be notified in advance of the dial-in phone number and the URL link to access the slides. When the CME Webinar is offered live, members will have the opportunity to send questions to the presenter and have those answered in real-time on the live broadcast. Following the live broadcast, WOEMA members may view and listen to the webinar on-line and then complete the questionnaire in order to receive credit. [Back to eNews]
WOEMA CME Webinar Registration Fees
WOEMA Member - $15
Non-Member Physician - $20
Non-Member Physician Package (series of 6) - $90
WOEMA Member Package (series of 6) - $75
TOPIC: "Mild Traumatic Brain Injury"
Aired Thursday, August 19, 2010 • 12 noon PT
Speaker: Lorne K. Direnfeld, MD, FRCP, Neurologist, Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Description:
According to the CDC, there are about 1.5 million people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year in the US. Approximately 90% of these cases are mild injuries. Almost half were seen only in the clinic, physician office, or not at all. TBI is a leading cause of disability, especially among young adults.
Additionally, it is an important concern to the occupational health care pratitioner. Work-related TBIs constitute an estimated 45-50% of all TBIs, with the incident varying by specific occupation.
Participants in this webinar will learn the criteria for the diagnosis of TBI and will gain heightened awareness of the importance of physician/healthcare provider interaction and the outcome of patients with mild TBI including avoiding iatrogenic disability. A case example will be presented to illustrate this and other issues.
Learning Objectives:
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The definition of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).
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Symptoms of mild TBI.
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Important points in the history of patients with mild TBI.
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Using strategies to strengthen the partnership with TBI patients and building a therapeutic alliance.
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Avoiding iatrogenic disability.
CREDIT: WOEMA is accredited by the Institute of Medical Quality/California Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians. WOEMA takes responsibility fo the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. WOEMA designates this educational activity when combined with completion and submission of the on-line questionnaire, for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. CME Certificates are issued and e-mailed to those who successfully participate and complete the webinar.
TOPIC: "To Work or Not to Work: The Costs of Absenteeism and Presenteeism"
Aired Thursday, June 17, 2010 • 12 noon PT
Speaker: Constantine Gean, MD, MBA, MS, FACOEM, Regional Medical Director, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Description:
Determining appropriate return to work status is a complex issue that must be addressed by all physicians, regardless of specialty. Not only must the timing of the return to work be addressed, but ancillary issues such as modified duty, part time work, or necessary accommodations need to be examined. OEM Physicians are often called upon by patients and employers for their expertise in this arena.
The complexity is increased by the number of stakeholders in the return-to-work process: patient, physician, managers, supervisors, human resources (if the absence from employment is work related), then adjuster and insurance company.
We will discuss and suggest practice improvements on this critical topic during this WOEMA Webinar Series.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
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Understand absenteeism, presenteeism, and the difference between the two.
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Describe why absenteeism and presenteeism are important concepts for occupational health practice.
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Obtain a general concept of the origins of presenteeism.
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Appreciate absenteeism and presenteeism as they relate to the Workers Compensation and Group Health arenas.
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Review the economic consequences of absenteeism and presenteeism.
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Obtain an understanding of program approaches to monitoring and limiting costs from absenteeism and presenteeism.
[Webinar, Powerpoint Presentation, Evaluation for CME Credit - WOEMA Members Only]
TOPIC: "Occupational Lead Poisoning: New Guidelines for Clinical Management"
Aired Thursday, April 15, 2010 • 12 noon PT -
Speaker: Paul J. Papanek, Jr., MD, MPH, Occupational Health Service, Los Angeles Medical Center, Kaiser on the Job
Description:
1) The California Dept. of Public Health published a new Guidance Document in 2008 on acceptable blood lead levels, which occupational physicians should be familiar with. Its key changes are:
(a) Blood lead levels should be kept below 20 mcg/dl
(b) Physicians can use Medical Removal Protections to accomplish this
2) Brief overview of lead toxicity and clinical presentation.
3) Epidemiology of lead poisoning in California, using Southern California data.
4) Other clinical approaches founded in the OSHA Lead Standard.
5) Pedictions for changes to the OSHA Lead Standard.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
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State the target blood lead levels that are now supported by clinical research and recommended by health departments.
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State a strategy for achieving such blood levels within the constraints of the OSHA lead standard.
[Webinar, Powerpoint Presentation, Evaluation for CME Credit]
TOPIC: "Overuse of Narcotics in California's Workers' Comp System: A Payer's Perspective and Suggested Interventions"
Aired Thursday, February 18, 2010 • 12 noon PT
Speaker: Gideon Letz, MD, MPH, Medical Director, State Compensation Insurance Fund
Description: It is well known that a small percentage of Workers' Comp claims are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of the overall costs in the system. Surprisingly, most of these high cost cases are not severe injuries. They are mostly minor strain/sprain diagnoses with disability duration greater than expected - so called "delayed recovery" cases.
The cause of the unexpected disability and failure to recover is related to various psycho-social issues that involve the patient, his/her employer, treating physician and claims administrator. Most of these patients develop some form of chronic musculoskeletal pain that is often mis-managed because the treatment fails to address the non-medical context of the injured worker's claim. Typically, these patients are treated with chronic opiate medications, often in continually escalating does without any sign of functional improvement. Return to work is delayed and they become more and more isolated from their employer, co-workers and even family and friends. The results are disastrous both in terms of cost and human suffering.
A first step in turning these cases around is detoxification from narcotic and other CNS depressant medications, combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and daily exercise, particularly aerobic activity. But a more effective strategy involves early identification of patients at high risk for delayed recovery and specifically intervening with proven multidisciplinary treatment.
Learning Objectives:
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To explain why use of opioid medications in the management of common soft-tissue musculoskeletal strain/sprain injuries is contrainidcated and prolongs disability.
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To offer suggestions for the clinician on how to avoid the pitfalls of chronic opioid use:
a. Early identification of patients at risk for delayed recovery
b. Referral for effective alternative therapies with a focus on active care. -
To outline a stratgey for how clinicians can work cooperatively with claims administrators and employers to facilitate recovery.
TOPIC: "Cal-OSHA ATD Standard"
Aired Thursday, January 21, 2010 • 12 noon PT
Speaker: Deborah Gold, MPH, CIH
Senior Safety Engineer, Cal/OSHA
Description: California recently enacted the first occupational safety and health standard to protect employees against aerosol transmissible diseases. This presentation will include the background of the standard and how it relates to other infection control and occupational safety and health guidelines. The presentation will also discuss requirements relevant to medical practices, and the role of physicians in providing medical services under the standard.
- Describe how aerosol transmissible diseases are classified.
- Apply common control measures to prevent the risks of aerosol transmissible diseases in medical practices.
- Identify specific control measures applicable to airborne infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
- Interpret and report the exposure incidents and medical follow-up requirements under the ATD Standard.
[Webinar, Powerpoint Presentation, Evaluation for CME Credit - WOEMA Members Only]
TOPIC: "Pyrethroid Pesticides: Hidden Hazard"
Aired Thursday, December 10, 2009 • 12 noon PT
Speaker: Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
- Report pesticide illness
- Describe why occupational illness due to pyrethroids is a concern
- Recognize settings where exposure to pyrethroid pesticides may occur
- Identify potential health consequences of exposure to pyrethroid pesticides
- Manage workers exposed to pyrethroid pesticides
[Webinar, Powerpoint Presentation, Evaluation for CME Credit - WOEMA Members Only]