Judges Chosen for Fla. CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Comp

CHOICE Medical Management Services, Inc. has selected its panel of judges for the first annual Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation to recognize outstanding physicians who treat patients under the Florida workers’ compensation system.

CHOICE, which announced the awards in April, recognizes that treating physicians have the greatest impact on the outcome of a workers’ compensation claim. Experienced workers’ compensation physicians are reportedly extremely effective, provide a higher quality of care, and produce better outcomes with lower claims costs. “They understand the workers’ compensation system and they make it easier for everyone involved in the claim,” said CHOICE’s President Tom Barrett. “These doctors make a difference. They go above and beyond and are extremely dedicated to providing the right treatment and care to injured workers.”

CHOICE drew from all facets of the workers’ compensation industry – including physicians, insurance carriers and employers. The judges are Jim McConnaughhay, partner in the Tallahassee, Fla. law firm of McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver, P.A.; Gerald Jacobs, director of insurance & claims for Hillsborough County; Gene Hartsell, COO, American Board of Quality Assurance & Utilization Review Physicians (ABQUARP), based in Clearwater, Fla.; Victor Marrero, Vice President of Marsh Inc., a leading risk and insurance services firm in Sunrise, Fla.; Joel Strom, MD, USF Physicians Group in Tampa, Fla.; Joseph Paduda, a nationally recognized workers’ compensation managed care consultant and president of Health Strategy Associates of Madison, Conn.; and Mike Madden, director of the Florida League of Cities, Inc. in Orlando, Fla.

The Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation honors physicians who deliver high quality care, promote the return-to-work philosophy and achieve a high rate of patient satisfaction. Anyone involved in the workers’ compensation system, including injured employees and their employers, case managers, claims adjusters and managers, risk managers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) can nominate a physician by logging onto http://www.FloridaChoiceAwards.com.

Nominations are due by June 30, and the awards will be presented on Aug. 18 at the 58th Annual Florida Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando.