Program for the Second Annual

North Carolina Workers' Compensation
Educational Conference

Sponsored by the N.C. Industrial Commission*

September 29 and 30 and October 1, 1997

The Sheraton Imperial
Research Triangle Park

*In association with the International Workers' Compensation Foundation, a
nonprofit association dedicated to workers' compensation research and education.

Program

Monday--September 29, 1997

1:00 P.M. -- Welcome -- Chairman J. Howard Bunn Jr.

1:10 P.M. -- Current National Trends in Workers' Compensation -- John H. Lewis, Attorney/Workers' Compensation Consultant, Boca Raton, FL -- Questions from the Floor.

2:15 P.M. -- 1997 Legislative Update -- Impact on the Industrial Commission (Hospital Billing, Penalties for Fraud and Non-Insurance, Death Benefits for Non-Resident Aliens, Real Estate Exemptions, Self-Insurance Regulation & Managed Care Regulation).

2:30 P.M. -- Violence in the Workplace -- Eleanor M. Ross, President, Eleanor M. Ross and Associates, Inc., Stone Mountain, GA.

3:00 P.M. -- Break.

3:20 P.M. -- Physician-Patient Privilege and ex parte Contacts: Pre- and Post-Salaam -- Panel Discussion: Plaintiff's Attorney Mark T. Sumwalt, DeLaney & Sellers, Charlotte; Defense Attorney George W. Dennis III, Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham, Raleigh; Insurance Adjuster Deborah Jackson, Travelers Property & Casualty, Charlotte; Rehabilitation Nurse Linda Y. Koch, Linda Y. Koch & Associates, Inc., Harrisburg; Physician James R. Boatright, MD, Miller Orthopaedic Clinic, Charlotte; and an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the hand -- Questions from the Floor.

5:00 P.M. -- Adjournment.

Reception begins in Exhibit Area (Imperial Salons I - III) and ends at 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday--September 30, 1997

7:00 A.M. -- Continental Breakfast (served in Exhibit Area: Imperial Salons I - II).

8:30 A.M. -- Concurrent Break-Out Sessions (choose one of the seven sessions listed below; each will be presented four times).

  1. Claims Processing, I.C. Forms Preparation, Discussion on Procedures -- I.C. Chief Claims Examiner Pat Benton; Insurance Adjusters Deborah Jackson, Travelers Property and Casualty, Charlotte; Traci Bailey, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Atlanta, GA; Vivian L. Baines, Cigna Property & Casualty Richmond, VA; and Lynn Key, Key Risk Management Services Greensboro -- Auditorium.

  2. Administrative Rulings (Mock Form 24 Proceedings, CSA & Third Party Distribution Review, Rulings on Change of Physician & Other Medical Motions) -- Executive Secretary Tracey H. Weaver; Special Deputy Commissioners Amy Pfeiffer and Ronnie Rowell; Defense Attorney Henry C. Byrum Jr., Golding Meekins Holden Cosper & Stiles, Charlotte; and Plaintiff's Attorney Jerome P. Treghy Jr., Twiggs Abrams Strickland and Treghy, Raleigh -- Imperial Salon III.

  3. Mediation (Mediation Conference Vignettes, Discussion on Procedures) -- I.C. Mediation Coordinator John C. Schafer; Mediators Elizabeth G. McCrodden, JD, Raleigh; Kathy A. Gleason, JD, Asheville; Larry S. Kimel, JD, Asheville; Plaintiff's Attorney Victor Morgan; Hooper Warlick Morgan & Henry, Jacksonville; Plaintiff's Attorney/Mediator Roy J. Baroff, Jernigan Law Firm, Raleigh; Defense Attorney/Mediator Henry W. Gorham, Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham, Raleigh; Insurance Adjusters Linda Saunders, Wausau Insurance Company, Charlotte; and Kathy Baughman; Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Charlotte -- Imperial Salon IV.

  4. Medical Rehabilitation -- Goals for Ideal Medical Rehabilitation -- I.C. Nurses Section Supervisor Margaret Dunn, RN, CDMS, CCM; Commissioner Dianne C. Sellers; Rehabilitation Nurse Barbara Armstrong, RN, BSN, CDMS, CCM, CLCP, Armstrong & Associates, Charlotte; Physician Facilities Caroline Fortner, RN, CDMS, CCM, Workers' Compensation Manager Orthopaedic Health Network, Charlotte; Chiropractor Erin Kuczmarski, DC, Raleigh Neck & Back Clinic, Raleigh; Physical Therapist Sue Kowalick, Physical Therapist, Pinehurst; Plaintiff's Attorney Victor Farah, Jernigan Law Firm, Raleigh; Defense Attorney Jeri L. Whitfield, Smith Helms Mullis & Moore, Greensboro; and Insurance Adjuster Ann O'Connell, Riscorp, Charlotte -- Imperial Salon V.

  5. View From the Bench -- Perspectives from Deputy & Full Commission Levels -- Commissioner Laura K. Mavretic; Team Leaders; and Deputy Commissioners -- Imperial Salon VI.

  6. Fraud and Non-Insured Employers -- Commissioner Bernadine S. Ballance and Deputy Commissioner Douglas E. Berger -- Imperial Salon VII.

  7. Computers -- Brave New World (movie presentation), Demonstrations -- Commissioner Thomas J. Bolch; and LOIS, Inc. Paula Byers -- Royal Salon.

10:00 A.M. -- Break.

10:20 A.M. -- Break-Out Session II (choose one session from the list above).

12:00 P.M. -- Lunch - Empire Salon

1:15 P.M. -- Break-Out Session III (choose one session from the list above).

3:00 P.M. -- Break.

3:20 P.M. -- Break-Out Session IV (choose one session from the list above).

5:00 P.M. -- Adjournment.

Wednesday--October 1, 1997

7:00 A.M. -- Continental Breakfast (served in Exhibit Area: Imperial Salons I - II).

8:30 A.M. -- The Future of the Industrial Commission -- Chairman J. Howard Bunn Jr.

8:50 A.M. -- Case Law Update -- Deputy Commissioners Lorrie L. Dollar and Mary Moore Hoag.

10:00 A.M. -- Break.

10:20 A.M. -- Vocational Rehabilitational Problems -- Vocational Specialist Katherine L. Wickizer, MS, CRC, CVE District Manager, Resource Opportunities, Raleigh; Physician Albert Osbahr, MD, Occupational Health Services, Clyde, and Chair, N.C. Medical Society Advisory Committee to the Industrial Commission; Plaintiff's Attorney Thomas F. Ramer, Ganly Ramer Finger & Strom, Asheville; Defense Attorney Henry C. Byrum Jr., Golding Meekins Holden Cosper & Stiles, Charlotte; and Insurance Adjuster Linda Saunders, Wausau Insurance Company, Charlotte -- Questions from the Floor.

12:00 P.M. -- Adjournment.

For more information about the conference, e-mail:  Andrew Young.

Return to NCIC Home Page (best viewed with Netscape and Internet Explorer)

Return to NCIC Alternate Home Page