Pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American healthcare providers write 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medication each yea…
2020 is a year like no other. The coronavirus pandemic has magnified the significance of public health. Social distancing, masks, plexiglass barriers, hand sanitizer and contactless pickups have become parts of our everyday lives, and the importance…
Early nurse engagement makes a valuable impact in 3 key areas Recent analysis of Sedgwick’s claims data shows that employers using 24/7 clinical consultation for workplace injuries saw 34% lower incurred costs than those using an intake process with…
Sedgwick routinely reminds clients and colleagues about the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. The next Take Back Day will be Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In 2010, the DEA started org…
Sedgwick routinely reminds clients and colleagues about the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. The next Take Back Day will be this Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In 2010, the DEA st…
A portrait of opioid use disorder Read part one of Rachel's story here. Rachel was once a vibrant gardener, grandmother and worker. Regrettably, following an injury, she became one of a growing number of those suffering from opioid use disorder (…
Rachel enjoyed gardening and canning vegetables. She enjoyed cooking, taking walks and spending time with her grandchildren. After she was injured at work, she was optimistic about making a speedy recovery. She was 53 years old and had always stayed …
When it comes to getting the attention of the media and the public, not many things work better than an unfiltered, celebrity mugshot. When Tiger Woods was arrested on Memorial Day for driving under the influence, his mugshot and the story of his a…
Most workers’ compensation claims do not start out as complex. They become complex over time due to specific drivers that increase costs and duration. Being able to recognize and resolve these drivers at the right time will help reduce a claim’s like…
Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is 80 times more potent than fentanyl and 8,000 times more potent than heroin. Having been created and used as an elephant tranquilizer in China, it has now found its way into the hands of the public. This dru…
Three weeks ago, I was wrapping up a discussion with a client and fellow Sedgwick colleagues on the opioid epidemic. Someone in the room received the unexpected text that Prince had died. In the next few moments, without any other information, my fel…
It was my privilege to present along with Dr. Paul Peak of Sedgwick at the 2016 National RX Drug and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss dangerous prescribing practices and at-risk patients. The conference was highlighted by a public ap…
Last year, Dr. Reema Hammoud of Sedgwick shared a blog regarding National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will be held April 30, 2016. Ho…
It is possible that 2015 will be the year remembered as the turning point in addressing the opioid and narcotic epidemic in the United Sates. This year, almost every conference, publication and industry expert has addressed the topic. Just last mon…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46 people in the U.S. die from an overdose of prescription painkillers every day.[1] Deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses have increased more than 400% among women and 2…