Ask anyone who has been in Worker’s Compensation for more than a week or two and you will know that the overall process is constantly changing. A favorite phrase I use frequently is that Workers’ Compensation is always the same, except it is different in every state. Injured employees change, their perspective changes, and the overall system is changing with each legislative session. Moreover, what is appropriate medical care continues to evolve, and dealing with the complexity of an aging workforce only adds to this calculus.
So, what does this all mean? For any professional in the workers’ compensation ecosystem, ongoing education is not an academic exercise. Continuing education is a near-mandate that directly affects claim outcomes.
Medical Standards Are Constantly Evolving
For any professional in our system, just take a look at a file you started three years ago. Review the MRI report using a 1.0 magnet as opposed to today’s 3.0 magnets. The algorithms of change, and now we can identify changes on the T2 or STIR images that were simply not available several years ago. An additional consideration would be the standard for epidural steroid injections. When I completed my training, the standard for epidural steroid injections was a series of three injections. Today’s standard (as outlined in the Official Disability Guidelines) is that you do one if there is objective evidence of verifiable radiculopathy or nerve root encroachment. If there is significant improvement, perhaps a second injection might be pursued, but never a third injection. This is another indicator of how things change frequently.
How Clinical Knowledge Leads to Better Claim Decisions
With all of the advances we have in terms of diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, and other objective parameters, we can easily discern between subjective symptomology and clinical findings other providers could independently confirm. This difference allows a more successful adjudication of the claim file and limits the treatment to what actually occurred as a result of the identified event. Having that medical resource in your pocket only adds to your ability to ask questions, recognize “red flags” and gain an appropriate perspective on those items that simply do not make clinical sense. This additional information leads to more defensible determinations when managing the claim file.
As noted previously, the legislature often intervenes in various aspects of Workers’ Compensation. Or simple rule changes are provided based on a certain set of facts. These requirements change frequently, and as noted, every state has different expectations.
Continuing Education Is More Than a Compliance Requirement
Therefore, returning to my main point, simply meeting minimum education requirements is not enough. The real value is understanding all aspects, seeking out that information/education necessary to successfully complete your tasks. Continuing education helps those workers compensation professionals remain compliant and avoid costly errors. Ongoing education is not about checking a box for license renewal (where appropriate), it is about making better decisions, doing your best for any particular claim, and improving outcomes for all parties concerned. Better informed decisions tend to be more defensible decisions. This is where ongoing education really earns its value.
