Comp Summit 2010

Welcome! Comp Summit registration remains open throughout the day.

The Comp Summit EXPO on the Erickson Hall Veranda remains open throughout the conference. View a wide range of products and services for the workers' compensation community in Maine and enjoy coffee and conversation. 

The following schedule is subject to change, so please check back from time to time for the latest updates!

Workers' Compensation Best Practices. Four experts bring their points of view on the workers' compensation system in Maine. From the contrasting perspectives of the employer/insurance community, the employee community, and the Monitoring, Audit & Enforcement Program (MAE) you will gain a better understanding of compliance and administrative requirements. This presentation is recommended for participants new to the system in Maine, for those who desire a lively and enlightening update and refresher, and for any claims administrator who wants an update on the current state of best practices in Maine. 

Presenters: Kimberlee Barriere (Office of Monitoring, Audit & Enforcement - Workers' Compensation Board); Deborah Buccina (Douglas, Denham, Buccina & Ernst), Paul Sighinolfi (Rudman & Winchell), and Thom Watson (Director of the Advocate Program - Workers' Compensation Board).

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! "Let the Good Times Roll!" Join us for the first ever Comp Summit Bowling Extravaganza at the Point Lookout Lanes. This ten-pin tournament is designed for the entire audience. And we can always call up the lane bumpers at this technologically superb bowling facility. Flexible start and end times! Host: MyJobWave.com. Look for complete details in your convention confirmation package.

Northport Golf Club hosts this year's tournament. Established in 1916, this charming coastal course offers a 9-hole tournament. Scramble format, with a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. Enjoy a breath of fresh air just around the corner from the conference site. Camaraderie! Prizes! All for $30/person, including golf cart and treats. Complete details to follow with your conference registration package. 

Are Two Heads Better than One? Coordination of Care Involving Orthopedic Surgery. Injuries resulting in surgery are among the most costly and difficult to manage, not only because they are serious, but because they often involve coordination of care among two or more medical specialties. This presentation by an Orthopedic Surgeon and an Occupational Medicine physician will explore ways of tapping the expertise of both in order to best meet the needs and expectations of the injured employee and the employer. Case presentations will illustrate the process of selecting the best candidates for surgery, determining the most appropriate operation and timing, and the best pre-op and post-op care.

Presenters: John Thaller, MD (Augusta Orthopedics) and John Bielecki, MD (Workplace Health at MaineGeneral).

Leave Conundrums. In addition to the workers' compensation statute, there are several leave laws governing the rights of employees in Maine. The more contentious leave issues usually revolve around return to work following an extended leave and the use of intermittent leave. This session looks at the difficult challenges of coordinating the various leaves available in Maine, and the legal twists and turns that may pertain depending on which law or laws apply.

Presenter: Lawrence Winger, attorney and author of the "Maine Employer's Handbook."

An integrated approach to risk-magagement of soft tissue injuries. Nationally, sprains and strains account for 41 percent of all workplace injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work. Musculoskeletal injuries are difficult to assess and ultimately are handled differently by providers across the country. With little standardization and consistency of care delivery, the outcomes are varied from one provider to the next. In this first Plenary Session, Ray Gagne offers an integrated approach that manages and reduces risk throughout the continuum of care. Among the issues on Ray's agenda are: job analysis, ADA compliance, ergonomic hazards analysis, pre-employment protocols, a combined work simulation model for physical therapy, return to work/fit for duty evaluations, transitional duties, job transfer risks, and the issues presented by an aging workforce.

Presenter: Ray Gagne, EET, CFE, NADEP, National Director of Work, Comp, and Disability for U.S. Physical Therapy, visiting from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Hors d'oeuvres and Stunning Views! Our conference shuttle will whisk you to the Summit, where you'll enjoy a delicious array of hors d'ouevres and some great conversation. Join us in this elegant setting high above Penobscot Bay, with views from Blue Hill to Monhegan Island. Host: The Maine HR Convention.

Dinner is on your own. Enjoy some of the best dining in Maine, from simple pub fare and seafood to elegant continental selections at restaurants in Camden, Lincolnville, Rockport and Belfast. For those who wish to stay on property, there will be an optional dinner buffet for approximately $35. Your registration confirmation package will include information on all your options.

Dance the night away in the Summit House with Comp Summit DJ Greg Powers.