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 July 2021 issue. President’s CornerBy Scott A. Krasner, MD, MPH, FACOEM It’s hard to believe that my tenure as President is half over, and I ask myself, have I helped WOEMA and our members fulfill our goals? Have I steered WOEMA in the right direction? I tend not to dwell on the past as I am a “glass is half-full” type of person. However, it is in looking over the past 6 months that I gain the insight to steer for the next 6 months. So, to answer my own question, YES, we are heading in the right direction. We are overcoming the Covid 19 pandemic and have continued to provide our education series, participate and lobby for legislative changes as it affects our members, and push for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion for all. But our path has not been easy; although I may be at the helm, without you, our members, I would have nothing to steer. In essence we are all steering that which we call WOEMA. So, to guide you I would like to offer something taught to me 50 years ago when I was learning how to drive, five points on defensive driving, and how it applies to us: First, Aim high in steering. By setting our sights high we can achieve our most worthy goals. Second, Get the big picture. Understand how WOEMA and our activities are integral parts of all our lives. Third, Keep your eyes moving. Do not stay stagnant, for the only constant in life is change. Fourth, Make sure others see you. WOEMA must be and is visible to our Occ Med community. And finally, Always leave yourself an out. With the many activities within our field, always be flexible to adapt as needed, and WOEMA will be there for support. With this advice I am honored to be steering us into the next 6 months, which will culminate with WOHC 2021, hosted in Phoenix, Arizona. I encourage ALL to register and attend and let WOEMA continue to play an active role in your professional endeavors. See you at WOHC 2021! WOHC 2021 – See you there!Well fellow WOEMA, ACOEM members, and those of you that can’t wait to become members, the time is drawing near. WOHC 2021 is just around the corner and waiting for all of you to come celebrate its “in-person” return. The invitation is out there. You’ve received the postcard. Now just open up that website: woema.org/WOHC-2021, look at the incredible sessions that are beckoning you to enjoy. The Phoenix Bird is unfolding it’s wings and extending an embrace to all of you. You have until July 9th to capture the early bird discount. Your stay at the Hyatt Regency will be rewarded with an EXTRA 2000 travel points and the most up-to-date COVID safety precautions. Stay tuned for some exciting videos. A little this and a little that to entertain you pre-conference! Visit the website early and often. Smile a little and laugh a lot!!!! See you at the conference. We can’t wait!!! Rosalie Banasiak, MD, FACOEM Alya Khan, MD, FACOEM Interact, Network, and Connect via the New WOEMA Member Community Forum!WOEMA is excited to announce the NEW Member-only Community Forum! Here is where you can share thoughts, articles, and questions with your fellow WOEMA Members. Purpose and Intent WOEMA’s Community Forum is a membership privilege. Education of its participants is the primary purpose by providing open discussion of WOEMA topics. Members should limit the content of their posts in these sections with this in mind and refrain from drifting from the topic of the original post. To access the forum, you have 2 options after you log-in to your WOEMA profile:
OR
Click here to enter the Member Community Forum: https://woema.memberclicks.net/community-forum How to Utilize the Forum
Click here to enter the Member Community Forum: https://woema.memberclicks.net/community-forum Rules of Usage
Legal Notice and Disclaimer The WOEMA Community Forum and all WOEMA activities are services provided by WOEMA in furtherance of its nonprofit and tax-exempt purposes. WOEMA accepts no responsibility for the opinions and information on the Community Forum whether posted by WOEMA or others. WOEMA does not represent or warrant that information posted is accurate, complete, or current. WOEMA disclaims all express warranties included in any materials or information, and further disclaims all implied warranties, including warranties of merchant-ability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement of proprietary rights. The use of information on this site is strictly voluntary and at the user’s sole risk. In no event shall WOEMA be liable for damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of any information posted on this site. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that it owns the copyright with respect to such material, has received permission from the copyright owner, or that the material is in the public domain. The posting party further warrants and represents that it otherwise has the full and unencumbered right to post such material and that such posting will not infringe on the rights or interests of others. In addition, the posting party grants to WOEMA and users of this Community Forum, a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or material in any manner, without payment to or further permission from the posting party. WOEMA reserves the right to take editorial control of postings and may alter or remove any post without notice or permission from the posting party or suspend or terminate Community Forum privileges of any member who does not abide by these rules. JEDI ReportWOEMA announced efforts to improve Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in June 2020. Since its inception on Juneteenth (June 19) 2020 as the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the JEDI Committee has accomplished the following:
Blue Sky Project Aims to Improve Work Comp QualityA subgroup of WOEMA’s Legislative Committee continues to meet and flesh out its “Blue Sky” project, which will develop a set of legislative prescriptions aimed at improving care in Workers’ Compensation systems. Chaired by Dr. David Caretto, the group includes Drs. Bob Blink, Rajiv Das, Steve Feinberg, Krystal Lin, Chang Na, Paul Papanek, and lobbyist Don Schinske. The goal of the project is to create five or six specific policy proposals that WOEMA could sponsor over time, all of which could lead toward better medical decision-making and improved outcomes for injured workers. Among the ideas being discussed are revising the physician reports to be more functionally based, revising the criteria for the E&M CPT codes to capture information more pertinent to occupational injury or illness, incorporation of quality assurance measures, and improvements to the AME/QME process. The group has started work on an umbrella document describing the intent of Blue Sky, the nature of “quality” in Workers’ Compensation, and the rationale for particular improvements. As part of the project, the Blue Sky team will be seeking input from WOEMA members. The work will also get shared with other stakeholders in the system, as changes to Work Comp ultimately require employer and labor buy-in. Those wanting more info about the project can contact Don Schinske at [email protected]. We look forward to keeping members apprised of our progress! Resident's Corner
Space Radiation Effects: Comparison of Ovarian Toxicity of Low Dose Gamma Radiation vs High LET Charged Particle Radiation |