Judges Selected For 2006 FL Choice Awards For Workers? Compensation

TAMPA, Fla. (WCNPC) ? CHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC has announced the judges for its fourth annual Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers? Compensation. The program recognizes outstanding physicians and practices who treat Florida?s injured employees under the Florida workers? compensation system.

Recruiting representatives from all areas of the workers? compensation industry, CHOICE selected the following 2006 judges panel (listed in alphabetical order): Kristy L. Burch, workers? compensation supervisor for Darden Restaurants, Inc. in Orlando; Richard Dolsey, MD, Physicians' Health Centers Corp. in Miami and CHOICE?s medical director; Dino Fabrizio, COO of Orlando-based Risk Transfer Holdings Inc.; Michael P. Madden, director of public risk services for the Florida League of Cities, Inc. also in Orlando; Joseph Paduda, principal of Health Strategy Associates, based in Madison, Conn.; and Rob Purdy, vice president of Philadelphia-based AIG.

Nominations for this year?s awards closed on May 31. Over 200 nominations were received. The Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers? Compensation recognize Florida physicians and practices that deliver high quality care, promote the return-to-work philosophy and achieve a high rate of patient satisfaction. Winners will be announced on August 15, 2006 at a grand reception in Orlando, and for more information, go to http://www.floridachoiceawards.com/. 

Produced by CHOICE Medical Management Services, the 2006 Florida CHOICE Awards are sponsored by Express Scripts, Inc., Florida Underwriter Magazine, Network Synergy, Inc., One Call Medical, Inc., Risk Transfer Holdings, Inc., Unisource Administrators, Inc. and ZoneCare USA.

Based in Tampa, CHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC is a specialty health care management organization, focused on workers? compensation and disability management services. CHOICE serves insurance carriers, professional employer organizations, municipalities, government entities, and self-insured employers.  For more information, visit http://www.choicemedmgt.com/ or contact Yvonne Halvaei, Marketing Director at yhalvaei@choicemedmgt.com or 813-282-9801.

Florida CHOICE Awards Criteria

• Licensed Florida physician or practice, minimum two years? workers? compensation experience
• Efficient staff, sets appointments in timely manner
• Work status routinely provided at time of treatment
• Demonstrates understanding and belief in a return-to-work philosophy
• Communicates pertinent issues with all parties involved (e.g., employee, employer, adjuster, carrier, case manager, other treating physicians)
• Processes necessary paperwork within 48 hours of seeing patient
• Superior level of patient satisfaction