Healthesystems’ executive leaders regularly lend their expertise to various industry publications, offering their insight into issues and trends impacting workers’ comp.
Business Insurance recently published an article on the shift away from opioids to alternative pain medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants and dermatological agents. While this shift is a great step forward, there are some unintended consequences as more expensive medications are being prescribed when cost-effective alternatives are available.
When reaching out to clinical experts for their insights, Business Insurance spoke with Healthe’s VP of Clinical Services, Silvia Sacalis, BS, PharmD, who commented upon the use of private-label topicals, which are not FDA-approved due to a lack of clinical studies that demonstrate safety or efficacy.
Dr. Sacalis notes that not only are these drugs ineffective, they are often dispensed directly by physicians, bypassing typical pharmacy safeguards that can flag drug and disease interactions.
In other news, the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) released the latest edition of their “Accidentally” monthly podcast – which shares insights, ideas, and information on workers’ comp issues – featuring Sandy Shtab, Healthe’s AVP of Advocacy & Compliance.
The episode, Social Media and the Workplace, features a discussion between host Jennifer Wolf, Executive Director of IAIABC and Sandy Shtab, covering the pros and cons of social media across workers’ comp. The discussion addresses:
- Opportunities for spreading thought leadership
- The ability to highlight and explore trends
- Lingering resistance against social media among senior leaders
- Using social media to increase connectivity among industry colleagues
- The different strengths and weaknesses across social media channels
- Being thoughtful of the content posted on social media
