The UPMC Advantage: What It Means to the Applicant Workers' Compensation Attorney

Transcription

1 The UPMC Advantage: What It Means to the Applicant Workers' Compensation Attorney PATIENTS ARE PROMPTLY SCHEDULED: Patients are generally scheduled within a day or two at most from time referred if not same day. Patients are then initially evaluated by our doctors within a week to 10 days from being scheduled. For trial, MSC or settlement, patient care timetables can and are routinely advanced. COMPETENT, FRIENDLY CARE: Our clinical staff is bi-lingual Spanish and med-legal trained to be sensitive to the needs of both patients and their attorneys. Our corporate office scheduling staff is bi-lingual as well and works closely with transcribing and the med-legal director on a daily basis. REPORTS THAT STAND UP AT SETTLEMENT, MSC OR TRIAL: UPMC takes great pride in its reports for attorneys. All reports are read by our medical-legal director, a jurisdoctorate, before being sent out. Reports are designed to stand up well and be effective at settlement, MSC or trial. Reports contain a concise yet adequately complete history of injury that summarizes the story of what happened to the patient at work resulting in trauma and emotional symptoms. Apportionment issues are appropriately addressed in the interview data section. Clinical testing and scores/results verify the emotional symptoms. Accurate GAF and WPI scores are in all reports. All reports have the post-'05 needed changes (apportionment, etc.) The diagnosis in each report is consistent with permanent emotional impairment rating, GAF, WPI, prognosis, clinical testing and results as well as the history of injury. Report turnaround time - faster as needed for trial, settlement or MSC - from time patient is initially seen by doctor to in your hands -in almost all cases is under 30 days. Transcribers are med-legal trained as well. Work function impairments in our P&S reports are always carefully calculated. The UPMC Advantage: Take Advantage Now! IHC Attorney Contact Person (Other Than for Initial Referrals or if Preferred) Taylor Morton, J.D., /business cell: ; fax,

2 Per ACOEM/AMA Guidelines 1. Pain Related Psychological Evaluation with Noninvasive Biofeedback Pain Management Therapy: These patients have been in pain for at least six-to-eight weeks or more and are to be seen immediately. We are to screen these patients by using the questionnaire form. (ACOEM 2e (2004) Chap. 6, Pain, Suffering and the Restoration of Function, pg. 115; Chap. 15 Section F, Stress Management Techniques, pg. 399). The psychological evaluation will determine that patient is not malingering, the pain is organic (real), and there is no psychological maladjustment injury. Generally treat for two-tothree months for secondary psych symptoms due to pain: pain related evaluation, medication if needed, then biofeedback therapy treatment. No P&S reports from the psychologist; they only receive a discharge PR-2 report. Please have all referring documentation indicate the following: The patient has been referred by the primary treating physician in this matter pursuant to an in compliance with applicable ACOEM/AMA Guidelines to assess symptoms due to pain and to determine, if any, counterbalancing factors such as maladjustment. 2 a. Psychological Evaluation & Testing: These are the traditional workers compensation psychological evaluations; the patient can have work related psychological disabilities. The patient is evaluated, treated, then deemed permanent and stationary (P&S). These patients will receive biofeedback therapy, medication; approximately two-to-three months of treatment, then the patient will

3 be declared P&S. The traditional psych workers compensation claim form is to be used. Trauma patients may need treatment for upwards of several weeks. Patients that have undergone surgery may also need more treatment time. The more serious the injury the more treatment may be needed due to anxiety, depression and other emotional symptoms. Overall the psychologist determines the disability and treatment. The physician assistant (PA) may have to do the initial evaluation to prescribe medication but patients generally consult with Dr. Herbert Marshak. 2 b. Psychiatric Consultation: Equivalent to traditional psychological evaluation except for that the patient needs to have medication prescribed as soon as possible. (ACOEM, 2e, ibid., supra) 3. Clearance: These patients need a psych evaluation to determine if the patient is emotionally stable and secure to have surgery or pain management procedures (spinal cord stimulation, epidurals, and discograms). In addition, all surgical clearances should indicate the following: Per applicable ACOEM/AMA Guidelines, a clearance psychological evaluation should be performed including a psychosocial assessment (for example, in advance of discography, ACOEM 2e, pg. 305, et al) to rule out emotional and cognitive symptomology such as maladjustment and/or other disorders to ensure the patient is emotionally stable and secure to undergo the planned surgical procedure. Being that this evaluation is for clearance the report is considered STAT and is issued the next day. These patients do not receive treatment or therapy (one time evaluations).

4 Universal Psychiatric Medical Center: Completing the Damages Component ofthe Personal Injury Case In many personal injoury cases, the client suffers emotional trauma as well as physical trazlma. Often, in addition to the signature emotional symptoms of anxiety, depression, and erratic sleep, other emotional/cognitive symptoms develop as well - such as irritability) ruminations, impaired concentration and aversions to remindersjoust to name a few. Related, there are often U crossover" symptoms such as recurring stress-intensified headaches, decreased interest in sexual activity/romantic intimacy andfeelings ofdysfunctionalism and/or disfigurement. Universal Psychiatric Medical Center (UPMC) has clinics throughout t4e Los Angeles area, South Bay, San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys, Orange County, Inland Empire, San Diego and Central California to help answer the needs of those cases presenting a psychological dimension to damages. We provide tile personal injury attorneys we work with three main reasons to utilize our services: A competent psychiatric and psychological team of doctors who ar.e experienced in injury cases and who can provide the evaluation, appropriate testing, diagnosis and report(s) that will not only expedite your client's emotional recovery but will also assist in a more definitive picture ofdamages; We work on a lien basis', UPMC has legally trained and experienced staff that understands the interplay of causation and damages in addition to the importance of the report's history of injury to the clinical presentation as well as to the overall case. UPMC's corporate offices are located at 3250 Wilshire Boulevard, suite 930, Los Angeles, CA Our phone number is ; fax, We look forward to your future referrals. * * * *

5 Documents needed when referring clients Letter from the attorney s office requesting an evaluation. UPMC Referral Form WCAB claim forms. Client Demographic Information. Available medical reports for client.

6 UPMC Universal Psychiatric Medical Center Herbert Marshak, M.D. Psychiatry, Bilingual Matthew Maibaum, Ph.D, QME, AME Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Medicine Diplomat, American Board of Medical Psychotherapy Norman Reichwald, Psy.D, QME, (SCIF) Clinical Director Date: Patient Name / Address Phone: Referring M.D. Phone: Fax: Attorney s Office: Phone: Fax: W/C PI QME *PLEASE INCLUDE DEMOGRAPHICS, DR S 1 ST REPORT Pain related Psychological evaluation (ACOEM/AMA) Chp. 6, pgs, 109 & 115/ACOEM Guidelines 2e (2004) (re: medications/biofeedback/core Alpha-Stim) Psychiatric & Psychological evaluation & treatment (compensable disability rating) (re: medications/biofeedback/core Alpha-Stim ) Clearance for surgeries and pain management procedures (ACOEM/AMA) Chp. 6, pgs, 109 & 115/ACOEM Guidelines 2e (2004). *to include body parts and type of procedure, If psych is NOT on the claim form patient having symptoms due to PAIN If psych is ON the claim form Patient having procedure=needs PSYH CLEARANCE to rule out psychogenic factor LOCATIONS PANORAMA CITY (Matthew Maibaum, Ph.D QME) 8121 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 316 Panorama City, CA LOS ANGELES (Marjorie Cohn, Ph.D) 1711 W. Temple Street Suite 4100 Los Angeles, CA SANTA ANA (Raymond Shallbetter, Ph.D, QME) 1206 East 17 th Street, Suite 106 Santa Ana, CA PASADENA (Matthew Maibaum, Ph.D QME) 960 E. Green Street Suite L-2 Pasadena, CA POMONA (Norman Reichwald, Psy.D QME) 1902 Royalty Drive Suite 290 Pomona, CA SAN DIEGO 6717 Convoy Ct. San Diego, CA LONG BEACH (Raymond Shallbetter, Ph.D, QME) 2777 Pacific Avenue, Suite K Long Beach, CA TELEPHONE (888) 85-PSYCH (77924) FACSIMILE Contact Corporate Office for an immediate appointment