Updates from WorkSafeBC

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 50, No. 3, April 2008, Page 126 WorkSafeBC

Looking for evidence on care of injured workers?
WorkSafeBC has an evidence-based practice group (EBPG) that reviews and analyzes key health care topics. While some of the reviews are evident in WorkSafeBC’s policies and practices, most are updates on a particular topic and add to the science surrounding the issues; where necessary, the EBPG alters health care practices based on up-to-date evidence.

Many of the critical appraisals and evidence-based reviews done by the EBPG are based on standards established by the Cochrane Collaboration Network. Recently, the EBPG became an official affiliate of the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre (www.ccnc.cochrane.org). This is the first time a workers’ compensation board in Canada or the US has been granted this affiliation.

Some of the EBPG’s reviews are available on our web site, WorkSafe­BC.com, in the Health Care Provider section (look under Customer Centres on the home page). Topics include:

• Artificial cervical and lumbar disc implants—A review of the literature

• Clinical guidelines for the treatment of low back pain

• Complex regional pain syndrome

• Lateral epicondylitis

• Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities

• Opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain

• Otto Bock C-leg—A review of its effectiveness

• Spinal cord stimulation—Use in patients with complex regional pain syndrome

Postoperative rehabilitation guidelines
The evidence-based medicine web page also contains postoperative rehabilitation guidelines, ranging from ACL reconstruction and ankle ligament reconstruction, to carpal tunnel release, hernia repair, meniscectomy, rotator cuff repair, as well as wrist arthroscopic and open procedures.

These guidelines were developed after an extensive review of current literature and input from our visiting specialist clinic surgeons as well as other medical and surgical specialists and physiotherapists in BC.
The guidelines can be downloaded from the web site.

Input welcome
WorkSafeBC’s evidence-based practice group is currently working on a number of projects, the largest being shoulder pain in adults, in conjunction with the BC Medical Association and the BC Ministry of Health.

The group welcomes further topic suggestions. Please contact Dr Craig Martin, senior medical advisor and head of WorkSafeBC’s evidence-based practice group, at 604 279-7417 or craig.martin@worksafebc.com.

Medical advisors available for consultation
WorkSafeBC medical advisors are readily available to assist physicians in establishing diagnoses or recommending treatment for injured workers with accepted WorkSafeBC claims. Medical advisors, if requested, will examine injured workers as a follow-up, but will not prescribe medications or provide ongoing care or treatment.

They can help expedite imaging or other diagnostic procedures, assist in referrals to WorkSafeBC-sponsored rehabilitation programs, or provide reassurance that further significant organic pathology is unlikely. If an expedited referral to a specialist is indicated, the medical advisor will discuss this with you.

To speak with a medical advisor or arrange an appointment for a patient, please call your nearest WorkSafeBC office or contact Medical Services at 604 244-6224.

Mark your calendars
This year’s WorkSafeBC Physician Education Conference will be held 11 October 2008 at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna, BC. It’s a wonderful time to visit the region, as both the Okanagan Wine Festival and the Okanagan International Marathon will be un­derway, so mark your calendars and plan to attend. For updates, visit www.worksafebc.com/news_room/conferences.

—Peter Rothfels, BEd, MD, ASAM
WorkSafeBC Director of Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer

Peter Rothfels, MD. Updates from WorkSafeBC. BCMJ, Vol. 50, No. 3, April, 2008, Page(s) 126 - WorkSafeBC.



Above is the information needed to cite this article in your paper or presentation. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommends the following citation style, which is the now nearly universally accepted citation style for scientific papers:
Halpern SD, Ubel PA, Caplan AL, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Solid-organ transplantation in HIV-infected patients. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:284-7.

About the ICMJE and citation styles

The ICMJE is small group of editors of general medical journals who first met informally in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1978 to establish guidelines for the format of manuscripts submitted to their journals. The group became known as the Vancouver Group. Its requirements for manuscripts, including formats for bibliographic references developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), were first published in 1979. The Vancouver Group expanded and evolved into the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which meets annually. The ICMJE created the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals to help authors and editors create and distribute accurate, clear, easily accessible reports of biomedical studies.

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