Evaluating Covid-19 Injury Claims With a Focus on Workers' Compensation.

: COVID-19 illness can cause multiorgan illness. Some States have passed legislation granting a rebuttable presumption of causation by workplace exposure in certain occupations. This paper summarizes methodology for evaluating claimants utilizing known science and as well as information from the American Medical Association Guides resources.

Using Electronic Health Records and Clinical Decision Support to Provide Return-to-Work Guidance for Primary Care Practitioners for Patients With Low Back Pain.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the process by which a group of subject matter experts in the area of return to work developed a resource tool to provide clinical decision support (CDS) for primary care clinicians.

Methods: A common musculoskeletal disorder, low back pain (LBP), was selected, pertinent literature reviewed, and specific recommendations for action in the clinical setting developed.

Results: Primary care practitioners (PCPs) are routinely expected to create work activity prescriptions.

ACOEM practice guidelines: opioids for treatment of acute, subacute, chronic, and postoperative pain.

Description: The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's guidelines have been updated to develop more detailed guidance for treatment of acute, subacute, chronic, and postoperative pain with opioids.

Methods: Literature searches were performed using PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Review, and Google Scholar without publication date limits. Of 264,617 articles' titles screened and abstracts reviewed, 263 articles met inclusion criteria.

ACOEM practice guidelines: opioids and safety-sensitive work.

Objective: ACOEM has updated the treatment guidelines concerning opioids. This report highlights the safety-sensitive work recommendation that has been developed.

Methods: Comprehensive literature reviews were accomplished with article abstraction, critiquing, grading, evidence table compilation, and guideline finalization by a multidisciplinary expert panel to develop evidence-based guidance.

Commentary: The spine and vibration: whole lotta shaking going on.

Commentary on: Holguin N, Martin JT, Elliott DM, Judex S. Low-intensity vibrations partially maintain intervertebral disc mechanics and spinal muscle area during deconditioning. Spine J 2013;13:428-36 (in this issue).

Factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea among commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Objective: Identify factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk during commercial driver medical examinations.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at an occupational health clinic by reviewing the commercial driver medical examinations medical records performed from January 2007 to December 2008. The magnitude of association with OSA was estimated with logistic regression.

Correlation between screening for obstructive sleep apnea using a portable device versus polysomnography testing in a commercial driving population.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of portable monitoring for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with polysomnography (PSG) in commercial drivers.

Methods: A consecutive case series of drivers were screened for OSA using recent validated consensus conference criteria at a single occupational medicine clinic; those screening positive were tested with a portable OSA screening device while awaiting PSG.

Results: Three hundred forty-six drivers were screened and 34 completed PSG and portable monitoring.

Consensus criteria for screening commercial drivers for obstructive sleep apnea: evidence of efficacy.

Objective: To validate the recently published consensus criteria for screening commercial drivers for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: A large, consecutive case series of commercial drivers was screened for OSA at a single occupational medicine clinic and those screening positive were referred for overnight polysomnography.

Results: One hundred ninety (13%) of 1443 individuals having commercial motor vehicle driver examinations screened positive for OSA.

Failure to communicate: how terminology and forms confuse the work ability/disability evaluation process.

Objective: To describe the current confusion in physician communication of patient work ability to insurers and employers.

Background: Many medical conditions cause patients difficulty with resuming their normal work activities. Employers and insurers frequently ask physicians for information on patient's work ability.