|
| |
NYCA 2010 Golf Outing, June 7, 2010
|
|
2010 NYCA Board of Directors and Executive Officers |
|
|
|
Your 2010 NYCA Membership Is Your Connection To The Industry
Join Now and reap the benefits. |
|
DR. TOTERO ON COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
AND A LOOK AT THE BOARD’S PLANS FOR RETURN TO WORK
AND VOCATIONAL REHAB |
|
NYCA hosted it second professional development workshop of the year on April 28, 2009 at NYSIF’s Terence L. Morris Conference Center.
|
| Following a catered breakfast and a welcome from NYCA president Annette Malpica, vice-president and workshop chair Mindy Roller introduced Dr. Charles Totero. |
 |
| Dr. Totero, a graduate of Georgetown Medical School, is an orthopedic surgeon and an expert on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (“CRPS.”) CRPS was and is also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD.”) |
The following is a brief synopsis of
Dr. Totero’s presentation: |
| CRPS is triggered by a noxious event-a fracture, sprain, surgery-which can be quite minor. What follows is a disproportionate amount of pain and hypersensitivity to stimulation. |
| Originally known as causalgia, the syndrome is first documented in the medical literature of the Civil War. Burning pain associated with traumatic nerve injuries gave rise to the diagnosis. |
| In 1946, the syndrome came to be known as RSD, although nerve injury was not necessarily present. Burning pain, temperature changes and perspiration were common elements. |
| CRPS was defined at a pain conference in Orlando, Florida in 1993. Two types of the syndrome were recognized; Type 1, without nerve injury, and Type 2, with nerve injury, as per the old term, causalgia. |
| Objective finding are required for an accurate diagnosis of CRPS; pain alone is not enough. One or more objective findings in two or more categories are required for an accurate diagnosis of CRPS: |
- Vasomotor: Asymmetric, dramatic changes in skin temperature and color.
- Sudomotor: Edema (an abnormally excessive accumulation of tissue fluid) and sweating.
- Motor: Decreased range of motion, weakness and tremor.
- Trophic: Changes to hair, nails, skin;
asymmetry.
|
| CRPS is a difficult, though often dramatic, diagnosis. Severe, disproportionate pain can occur at the slightest touch, often accompanied by swelling and redness. In an accurate CRPS diagnosis, there is no explanation for such symptoms. Certain personality types, such as very sensitive, easily frightened people, seem more susceptible. The cause is unknown and there is no diagnostic test. A diagnosis of CRPS is only proper if all other explanations-such as diabetic neuropathy-are ruled out. |
|
|
| The hallmark of treatment is aggressive early physical therapy. Drugs, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation and TENS units are also utilized. |
| Seemingly minor injuries can spiral into major cases with the onset of CRPS. NYCA and its members are grateful for Dr. Totaro’s enlightening presentation. |
| Following Dr. Totaro’s presentation, Ed Ruff and Vincent Meehan of the Workers’ Compensation Board discussed return to work and and vocational rehabilitation initiatives. |
 |
| Mr. Ruff is the Board’s advocate for injured workers. He reminded us that the 2007 Workers’ Compensation reform legislation included incentives for employers with drug, alcohol, safety and return to work programs. |
| The sooner an injured worker returns to work, the better for all parties, Mr. Ruff explained. While missing time, the injured worker may encounter social isolation, financial burdens, increased medical treatment and psychogenic overlay. Six months lost time can easily turn into two years. |
| Mr. Ruff identified the three keys of successful utilization of the workers’ compensation system: commitment, education and communication. |
 |
Mr. Meehan is a WCB's Supervisor of
Rehabilitative and Social Services.
|
| Mr. Meehan is the Board’s Supervisor of Rehabilitative and Social Services announced that in the near future the Board will release details of a mandatory return to work initiative. He promised a “change in climate” and advised the Board will be reaching out to employers. The Board will evaluate the claimant for viability of returning to work, and will ask: Do the objective findings justify the subjective? He noted the employer’s defense of voluntary withdrawal from the labor market will survive these developments. |
| As with any return to work initiative, co-operation of the employer will be the key. If successful, the Board’s plan will benefit the entire system. |
| NYCA thanks Mr. Meehan and Mr. Ruff for their fine presentation. Written by: Ed Hiller |
|
|
|
DR. SIPSKI SPEAKS ON DISABILITY AND SEXUALITY |
|
On Tuesday morning, February 10, 2009, NYCA welcomed Dr. Marca L. Sipski-Alexander as the featured speaker in our continuing series of breakfast workshops.
|
| The program took place at NYSIF’s Terence L. Morris Conference Center in lower Manhattan. |
| NYCA president Annette Malpica and the program chair and vice –president Mindy Roller welcomed Dr. Sipski and introduced NYCA first vice-president Glenn Femminella. |
| Mr. Femminella gave a live demonstration of this website’s new Hall of Presidents and In Memoriam tabs. Glenn also pointed out that, to the best of our knowledge, NYCA, now in our 95th year, is the oldest claims related organization in the country. |
| Dr. Sipskie-Alexander is a world renowned expert on rehabilitative medicine, especially concerning spinal cord injuries (“SCI”) and their effect on sexuality. She is based in Alabama and her lectures have spanned the globe. |
| Dr. Sipski-Alexander revealed that people with disabilities want to be sexual beings, no less so than the able-bodied. Indeed, having a fulfilling sexual life is one of the highest priorities for those with SCI. That said, she explained that those dealing with SCI are typically less sexually active and less satisfied than others. |
| The doctor explained that common concerns of those dealing with SCI include: body image, fatigue, partner issues, fear and lack of knowledge. Other concerns include whether their condition is static or progressive, psychological effects, timing, education and degree of sexual response. |
Dr. Sipski-Alexander reported that young |
|
|
|
Dr. Marca Sipski-Alexander |
| patients have shown to adjust better than others. |
| The doctor explained that sexual activity involves both neurogenic and vascular response, and that sexual response is still not perfectly understood by the medical profession. Physicians sometimes fail to take into account the effect treatment, including medication, may have on sexual function, especially in “elderly” patients, many of whom desire an active and fulfilling sex life. |
| Dr. Sipski-Alexander explained that communication between doctor and patient is paramount. All things considered, she feels an holistic approach is best. |
| This was another fine education program brought to you by NYSIF, “Your Connection to the Industry.” Special thanks to Dr. Sipski-Alexander and to NYCA secretary Kay Estes for helping to make the doctor’s appearance possible. |
The next breakfast workshop is scheduled for April 28, 2009. |
|
|
|
HILLER HONORED, MALPICA SWORN IN AT
HARVARD CLUB GALA |
|
|
Edward L. Hiller, Esq. |
| NYCA President Emeritus Edward Hiller was presented with NYCA’s Award for Excellence in Service to the Insurance Industry at the Harvard Club of New York on Saturday evening, December 13, 2008. |
| A record crowd of nearly 250 helped honor Mr. Hiller for his 24 years of service with the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF.) He is the director of claims at the Fund and has been serving in that capacity since 2000. |
| Mr. Hiller’s former co-director and current NYSIF Project Portfolio Manager Robert J. Sammons gave a speech and presented the award. “Ed Hiller epitomizes the standards of the New York Claim Association,” Mr. Sammons said. “Since taking the helm of Claims at NYSIF, Mr. Hiller navigated NYSIF Claims through the turbulent days following the attacks of 9/11 and assisted the Legal Department in implementing monitoring procedures to ensure NYSIF identifies any fraudulent claims that could be tied to terrorism under the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC.”) Mr. Hiller previously served as principal attorney in charge of legal litigation for the Fund. |
| “Through a series of seminars for claims staff Mr. Hiller developed first line claim supervisors, establishing a better workflow resulting in the reduction in the life cycle of claims, more timely and accurate reserving, better fraud detection and a stabilizing of claims inventory,” Mr. Sammons added. |
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Hiller thanked a long list of people including his friends and
family, past and current co-workers, his immediate predecessors as NYCA president |
|
|
(Mike Koss, Steve Scotti and Steven Licht,) the outgoing president John Sweeney, the NYSIF Board of Commissioners including Ken Theobalds and the NYSIF CEO Dave Wehner and First Deputy Tom Gleason, who have been especially supportive of NYCA. |
| NYCA continued its recent tradition of making a charitable contribution to the Smile Train, which transforms the lives of afflicted third world children by repairing their cleft palates. NYCA’s Art Rogen personally matched the contribution. |
| Incoming NYCA First Vice–President Glenn Femminella gave a preview of this website’s new Hall of Presidents and In Memoriam sections. |
Annette Malpica was sworn in as NYCA’s new president for 2009. She is Senior Counsel in the Labor and Employment Group at Consolidated Edison Company of New York. She joined Con Edison in 2003 after 10 years with the New |
|
Annette Malpica, RN, Esq.
2009 NYCA President |
| York City Law Department-Office of the Corporation Counsel. Annette was Senior Counsel and Director of Claims for the Workers' Compensation Division at the NYC Law Department. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Malpica also thanked Steve Scotti, her mentor at Con Ed and before that, the NYC Law Department, among others. |
| The black tie event-the highlight of NYCA’s social calendar-was an unforgettable success, with spectacular flowers, delicious food and wonderful music and dancing. Special kudos to the dinner chair and hostess, NYCA Secretary Kay Estes. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
New York Claim Association, Inc., 111 East 14th St, #180, New York, NY 10003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NYCA Membership |
Welcome! NYCA Membership Is
Your Connection To The Industry
|
Registered Members please login to renew
and update your NYCA
2010 Membership |
 |
This will allow you to pay your dues, sign up for special events, and register for workshops
on-line! You will be asked to create a membership (individual or corporate) and create a password.
After you have successfully registered
on our website, you will
be issued a membership number.
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
