The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is introducing a new approach to recovery called REWARD (Return Employees to Work and Reduce Disabilities). Learn about this new approach that employers can use to minimize the negative effects of work related injuries by taking into account the individual needs of injured workers, the environment in which they work, the demands of their jobs and that focuses on preventing injured workers from an unnecessary exit from the workforce.

This session will discuss programs in Tennessee that have already discovered how well this approach can work. It will also provide information on the major elements of the program including: Physician Certification, Employee Special Recognition, and an extensive collection of resources for employers that put tools in their hands to implement their own REWARD programs.

Introduction:
Jay Blaisdell, MIRR Program Coordinator, TN Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Moderator:
Abbie Hudgens, Administrator, TN Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Panelists:
Nancy Kelly, Nurse Case Manager, Averitt Express
Terry Horn, Director; Vanderbilt Corporate Health, Corporate Health & Wellness, Executive Health
Dr. Robert Snyder, Medical Director, TN Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
Dr. James B. Talmage, Assistant Medical Director, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; Adjunct Associate Professor in the Division of Occupational Medicine; Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College
Suzy Douglas, Medical Services Coordinator, TN Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Originally broadcast on October 30, 2020 as the final session in the all virtual Tennessee Workers' Compensation Educational Conference. https://www.tn.gov/workerscompconfe... #RethinkRecovery

Chapters
0:00:00 Housekeeping Reminders
0:01:36 Session Introduction
0:06:02 About REWARD
0:07:26 Averitt Express Example
0:18:43 Developing a Toolkit
0:19:42 Certified Physician Program
0:22:43 How to choose the right medical providers
0:31:43 VUMC Example
0:37:10 Can this benefit small TN businesses?
0:39:33 RTW Coordinator
0:44:12 Training & Resources
0:48:27 More about the Toolkit
0:50:28 Honor Roll Recognition Program
0:56:26 Collaboration
0:58:28 Travis's Story
1:01:23 Most Important Aspect?
1:07:18 Stay Tuned
1:07:38 Q&A
1:29:12 Final Housekeeping Announcements
1:31:32 Abbie's Final Thoughts