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Welcome to the WOEMA WINDOW. This e-newsletter is sent to members by email on a monthly basis. The e-newsletter provides links to this page. Below are the items that appeared in the December 2021 issue. President’s CornerBy Scott A. Krasner, MD, MPH, FACOEM As I finish up my tenure as President, I ask myself if we have been successful, and I am reminded of a quote from Albert Einstein, “Success is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” Wait…I’m sorry…he was referring to insanity, not success, though sometimes I wonder if they go hand in hand. Each year we have a new President, each year we do things over and over again, and do we expect different results? Well, each year the situations are different, and the obstacles placed in our way are different, so maybe we do expect different results. Let me quote from Booker T. Washington who said, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome.” In that sense, we have been quite successful as we have overcome the many obstacles placed in our path. Although the pandemic still impacts all aspects of our society, we were able to provide an in-person WOHC 2021 conference, with great success. We have updated and approved bylaws, no easy task, and have continued quite robust education programs. In fact, all of our committees have been more active. So, to answer my own question, yes, we have been successful this past year, but I credit that to all the hard work and dedication of all of you who made it happen. So, to quote from Woody Allen, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” I do want to thank you for showing up, for participating, and for making WOEMA a success. I encourage all who want to join and help, just contact the WOEMA office. Now I’ll leave you with one final quote, from the late, great Coach John Wooden (yes I am a UCLA Bruin), “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” Let’s all continue with our success. Memorable Moments of WOHC 2021Hyatt Resort, Phoenix, AZ Sept 29-Oct 2, 2021 Submitted on behalf of the 2021 WOHC Conference Chair and Co-Chair and written by Alya Khan, MD, MS CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT Can you believe WOHC 2021 came and went?! WOHC 2021 took place in the heart of downtown Phoenix at the beautiful Hyatt Regency, bringing together occupational and environmental health specialists from throughout the country for the first in-person ACOEM component conference of the year. There were an array of educational sessions as attendees participated in Post-Graduate hands on sessions, plenary sessions, a Resident Poster Awards ceremony, and a Fiesta Signature Event featuring a live mariachi band during Hispanic Heritage Month. Below are some highlights from the conference: WOEMA President Dr. Scott Krasner “...Now we are engaged in a great annual conference, testing whether those workers, or any work environment, so conceived and so dedicated can long be safe. We have come to dedicate the topics of this quest as a time for Renewal, Rejuvenation and Rising Above. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this...” Keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Orford, Lessons from my career “...Decide what you want to do with your life. Though sometimes plans change unexpectedly...” Speaker Will Humble “...reflect on your community’s response to covid. How can your organization become a resource to inform positive changes?...” A prominent presence of familiar faces and many new faces could be seen, such as the current president of ACOEM, Dr. Robert Bourgeois, as well as former presidents of ACOEM and WOEMA, such as Dr. Walt Newman! We were pleased to have the participation of many exhibitors and sponsors to the conference. Each of these groups received a Navy Challenge Coin for their ongoing participation in the WOEMA family. The exhibitors were just as excited to meet again in person as our members were! Can’t wait for the next WOHC? Not to worry as it is less than 1 year away in heart of Wine Country in Napa, CA at the exclusive Silverado Resort & Spa from October 6-9, 2022 (Thurs-Sun). The Napa area and Silverado Resort will serve as the excellent backdrop for educational, networking, fun, and recreational activities during the course of the conference. It will be topped off with a not to be missed signature event at the historic resort with a “Roaring 20’s” theme, so come dressed to impress! In addition to a PGA golf course, multiple pools, tennis courts, scenic trails, and kids' activities, you'll find plenty of opportunities to relax at the spa, get a good workout at the gym, or just unwind in your bungalow room in addition to getting your CME! Dr. Alya Khan is the Occupational Medicine Residency Director and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine from Hackensack UMC Mountainside and Occupational Medicine from University of California, Irvine, and holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. She also received a Master's degree in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Irvine. ACOEM Fall HOD UpdateBy David Caretto, MD, MPH, MRO The Fall Session for the ACOEM House of Delegates (HOD) was recently held on November 5th, 2021. The WOEMA delegation was present as Dr. Faiyez Bhojani called the meeting to order. We are delighted to see WOEMA member Dr. Chang Na installed for her first meeting as ACOEM HOD Recorder, her first step towards ACOEM HOD Speaker for the 2023-2024 session. No new resolutions were introduced; however, WOEMA was pleased to see ACOEM develop and promote the “Candidate Forum” – A roundtable town hall where candidate for the 2021 ACOEM election discussed their leadership experience and goals for the college if elected. This forum was first discussed in the WOEMA legislative affairs committee meeting in Fall 2020 as a mechanism of ACOEM members to learn more about candidates they are electing. WOEMA captured their ideas and structure for the forum in a resolution (21S-01) that was presented and approved at the Spring 2021 HOD meeting. Way to go WOEMA Legislative Affairs Committee! A new resolution was proposed from the floor by ACOEM’s Environmental Health Section requesting a name change to Environmental Health and Toxicology Section. The HOD accepted resolution for consideration and after discussion, voted to postpone consideration of their section name change until the next HOD meeting. Other HOD activity included affirmatively voting Dr. Yusef Sayeed as the next ACOEM HOD Recorder Elect starting in Fall 2022. One of the highlights of the ACOEM HOD is hearing directly from ACOEM leadership.
Future initiatives include identify and remove language barriers, improve marketing.
ACOEM HOD meetings are efficient for sharing of information and benchmarking. Attendees hear directly from ACOEM Leadership on the activities of the college and learn about the innovative projects being developed by their peers in ACOEM interest sections and other components. ACOEM members are free to draft and submit resolutions to HOD to shape the future direction of the college. ACOME HOD makes visible the creative work of ACOEM members to support our service to our patients and workplaces. In an era of remote meetings, the fall HOD meeting created connectedness among ACOEM membership as we await the opportunity to connect again at AOHC 2022 in Salt Lake City. David Caretto is an alumni of UCSF School of Medicine and Duke University Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He currently works as Medical Director for Employee Health Services for Sutter Health in the Sacramento Valley Region. He has served as Co-Chair of WOEMA’s Education Committee and serves on the Legislative Affairs Committee. OEM/Physician Roles in the Insurance IndustryBy Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM and David Berube, MD, MPH, FACOEM On April 20, 2021, the first ever joint WOEMA/NECOEM virtual webinar offered a presentation of the key elements of Disability and Workers Compensation Insurance Medicine. The presentation reviewed how OEM physicians interface with the insurance industry and discussed some of the best practices that are aligned with optimizing high quality care, minimizing disability, and fostering efficient engagement with insurance companies. Here we summarize some of the principles reviewed in this meeting. We note that the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of our respective companies and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. Insurance Authorization Documentation and Clinical Approach Three Critical Clinical Tasks
Capacity for Work and Other Activities Writing a Better Work Restriction
It is evident from the above that the greater the detail provided, the more accurate the restriction will be, and the greater the likelihood that it would be accurately considered and followed by all parties. Regarding the descriptive elements, the range of the dates provided may cover the time period up to a follow-up evaluation, at which time there would be an assessment of the status of the condition (i.e., progress, complications, and/or recovery.) The activity frequency is generally described as occasional, meaning up to one third of the time period, such as within an 8-hour period, frequent, meaning up to two thirds of the time period, and constant meaning more than two thirds of the time. The intensity of the activity, such as the amount of force involved with lifting, pulling, or pushing is also relevant to many types of injuries, as are range of motion restrictions. Roles and Opportunities for OEM Physicians
In summary, all parties are responsible for managing disability and workers compensation issues, and OEM clinicians have critical roles to promote optimal outcomes for employees and their employers through their interfacing with patients, employers, and insurance companies. David Berube, MD, MPH, FACOEM, is the Chief Medical Officer, Lincoln Financial Group. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Yale University and University of Connecticut Schools of Medicine, and Treasurer of NECOEM. Rupali Das, MD, MPH, FACOEM, is the California Medical Director of Zenith Insurance Company. She is also a Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and President of WOEMA. Resident's Corner - 2021 Resident Poster Presentations
Infection with COVID-19 from Workplace Environmental Exposure in a Healthcare Setting, Christopher Granda, MD, University of San Diego The Association of PFOA and PFOS in Drinking Water with Asthma ED Visits, Thomas Overton, MD, University of California Irvine Coccidioidomycosis Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Worker: A Case Report, Rashmi Bhuyan, MD, University of California Irvine The Man in the Irritant Mask: A Case Report, Robert West, MD, Loma Linda University Medical Center South Korea's Public Health Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic, Ji Young Nam, MD, University of California San Francisco Case Presentation: Small Bone, Big Cost, Samantha Ayoub, MD, University of California Irvine Patient with Right Ankle Sprain After Running; Progression to Acute Septic Arthropathy and Osteomyelitis of the Fibula, Stephen Craft, MD, University of California Irvine Do Reminder Emails Improve Student Health’s Onboarding Efforts for Incoming Dental Students, Tamera Means, MD, Department of Family and Community Medicine Meharry Medical College We sincerely thank Medlock Consulting for sponsoring the 2021 Poster Presentations!
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1st Place: The Differences in COVID-19 Mortality to State Business Lockdown Measures, Trevor Pugh, DO, University of Utah
2nd Place: Return to Work, Demographic Predictors, and Symptomatic Analysis Among Healthcare Workers Presenting for COVID-19 Testing: A Retrospective Cohort from a U.S. Academic Occupational Medicine Clinic, Zaira Chaudhry, MD, MPH, Loma Linda University Medical Center
3rd Place: Diving Into The Unknown: A Hazard Analysis for the Denver Fire Department Dive Team, Kelsey Smithart, DO, MPH, University of Colorado