2004 Florida CHOICE Awards to be Distributed

Five Florida physicians will receive the 2004 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation this evening (Aug. 23).

The awards are being presented at a reception at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, during the 59th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando. More than 500 are expected to attend the awards ceremony. The winners are:

— Cecil Aird, MD, Tampa Bay Hand Center in Tampa

— Vladimir Alexander, MD, Alexander Orthopedic Associates in
Largo

— Robert Freedman, MD, Robert Freedman, MD, PA in Aventura

— Monica Grinberg, MD, Miami Hialeah Medical Group in Hialeah

— Howard Weiss, DO, Howard Weiss, DO in Jacksonville

The recipients were selected from more than 225 nominations after a multi-level judging process. Nominations were received by individuals involved in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, including claims professionals, nurse case managers, adjusters, employers, physician staff and injured employees.

CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC, a Florida-based workers’ comp care management organization, launched the annual awards program last year to recognize and honor medical excellence in Florida’s workers’ comp system, according to Thomas Barrett, president and CEO of CHOICE. “The Florida CHOICE Awards underscore our belief that physicians have the greatest impact on the outcome of a worker’s compensation claim,” he said.

CHOICE will accept nominations for the 2005 winners starting in January 2005.