Newswise — The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has announced a proposal to formally adopt updated guidelines for elbow disorders published by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). The new guidelines, which were developed last year by ACOEM and added to its comprehensive publication Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines, would become a part of DWC's Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule.
The proposal has been posted at the DWC web site and public hearings scheduled for early August. If the proposal is accepted, ACOEM's Practice Guidelines, 2nd edition, 2007 elbow chapter will become the official standard for care involving elbow disorders in California workers' compensation cases.
"We're delighted California is moving forward with our guidelines, which we believe represent the state of the art in speeding recovery for injured workers through evidence-based care," said Editor-in-Chief Kurt T. Hegmann, MD, MPH, FACOEM. "We have worked closely with California in the past and look forward to an ongoing relationship dedicated to providing the best care possible for patients and the best medical guidelines for physicians."
The State of California has been using Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines to develop specific care recommendations since 2004, when it adopted them into its Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule. The guidelines are considered "presumptively correct" under California law.
The new Elbow Disorders chapter includes detailed descriptions of numerous treatments, reviews of surgical procedures for the elbow, an expanded physical examination section to improve diagnostic accuracy and an in-depth review of medications used to treat elbow conditions.
The elbow chapter also features ACOEM's new and improved methodology, which incorporates the highest scientific standards for reviewing evidence-based literature, ensuring the most rigorous, reproducible, and transparent occupational health guidelines available. The elbow guidelines were developed by experts in occupational, orthopedic, osteopathic, and disability medicine, and were reviewed by representatives from national occupational and physical therapy associations.
The Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines 2nd Edition, 2008 Revision, which includes the new elbow chapter in addition to new guidelines on low back pain and chronic pain, is in production. It will be available both electronically and in print form and orders are being accepted now for delivery in September. Individual chapters are also available for purchase at ACOEM's web site.
To inquire about ACOEM's Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines or to order print or electronic copies or individual chapters, call ACOEM at 847/818-1800, or visit www.acoem.org.The complete Guidelines are $175 for ACOEM members; $199 for non-members, plus shipping and handling.
About ACOEMThe American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) represents more than 5,000 physicians specializing in occupational and environmental medicine. Founded in 1916, ACOEM is the nation's largest medical society dedicated to promoting the health of workers through preventive medicine, clinical care, disability management, research, and education. For more information, visit http://www.acoem.org.
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