The conference will be held September 6-8 in Dana Point, California

Mary O’Donoghue, RN, Chief Clinical and Product Officer for MedRisk, will moderate a session on treating low back pain during the California Workers’ Compensation & Risk Conference.

“Low back pain is a leading reason for workplace disability,” O’Donoghue said. “It accounts for $100 billion in overall healthcare costs each year and healthcare costs for people with back pain are 60 percent higher than those for people without it.”

The session discusses the latest research on LBP treatment, including the unintended consequences of prescribing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests for non-complicated cases. It questions whether MRIs can trigger psychosocial risk factors, including catastrophic thinking and disability beliefs. The presentation also suggests ways to frame discussions with injured employees to avoid triggering psychosocial issues. Using case studies, it weighs the pros and cons of conservative care and the value of an integrated, patient-centric approach to diagnosing and treating LBP.

Panelists are Angela DeBortoli, Program Manager, Workers’ Compensation, University of California; Jennifer Christian, MD, president and Chief Medical Officer of Webility Corporation; Michael Rosenthal, PT, San Diego State University; and Matthew Walsworth, MD, PT, an Interventional Radiologist, West Los Angeles VA medical and faculty member, University of California, Los Angeles.

“Low Back Pain: A Step-By-Step Guide to Better Outcomes” is scheduled for September 7 at 8 a.m. CWC Risk will be held September 6 through 8 at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California. For registration and other information, please see http://www.cwcriskconference.org.

About MedRisk
Based in King of Prussia, Pa., MedRisk is the leader in physical rehabilitation solutions for the workers’ compensation industry. The company’s programs deliver savings and operational efficiencies that are significantly greater than traditional programs. MedRisk, which has successfully completed a SSAE 16 Type II examination, ensures high quality care and delivers outstanding customer service. To that end, all customer service professionals, healthcare advocates and physical therapists are based in the U.S. Customers include insurance carriers, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, state funds, and case management companies. For more information, visit www.medrisknet.com or call 800-225-9675.