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PODCAST

MEC Connect

Midwest Employers Casualty

Tune into MEC Connect to hear MEC experts discuss the latest developments in workers" compensation. Drawing upon their extensive experience, they will share stories and practical tips that can help partners and employers discover innovative ways to create a better outcome in their program.

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All Episodes

11:35

PTSD Diagnosis Dilemma

MEC Connect ·

2025/08/11

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has undergone significant evolution in both understanding and diagnosis over the past century. In our new MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “PTSD Diagnosis Dilemma,” our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fernando Branco, provides a comprehensive overview of PTSD, its progression in medical understanding, and why it is becoming overdiagnosed in modern practice. Dr. Branco challenges listeners to recognize the critical distinction between Acute Traumatic ...

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10:20

Understanding Burn Injuries in the Workplace

MEC Connect ·

2025/07/28

Burns represent one of the most devastating workplace injuries, with treatment costs potentially reaching millions of dollars and recovery periods extending for months or even years. Diving deep into the world of severe burn injuries, this episode, “Understanding Burn Injuries in the Workplace,” MEC’s Senior National Catastrophic Medical Consultant Phyllis Ramondetta unveils the staggering reality behind workplace burns. The financial toll alone is eye-opening - from $207,000 for moderate bur...

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10:25

Rancho Los Amigos Scale: Roadmap for Brain Injury...

MEC Connect ·

2025/07/14

Understanding brain injuries can be overwhelming for patients, families, and caregivers alike because every brain injury follows a different recovery path. In this episode, “Rancho Los Amigos Scale: Roadmap for Brain Injury Recovery,” Tracie Lemus, RN, CCM, National Medical Catastrophic Nurse Consultant at MEC, breaks down the vital tool that healthcare professionals use to track cognitive and behavioral rehabilitation after brain trauma. Tracie shares her perspective about how the Rancho Los...

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7:11

The Glasgow Coma Scale: Setting the Bar for Brain...

MEC Connect ·

2025/06/30

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is one of medicine's most critical assessment tools for traumatic brain injuries. In this episode, “The Glasgow Coma Scale: Setting the Bar for Brain Injury Evaluation," MEC’s Peggy Ford, a Senior National Medical Catastrophe Consultant with over 30 years of experience, provides essential knowledge about how the GCS measures brain injury severity. Peggy offers valuable insights into this evaluation method, which has become the cornerstone of neurological tests wor...

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8:35

Demystifying Medicare Set-Asides in Workers Comp

MEC Connect ·

2025/06/16

Medicare Set-Asides (MSAs) represent a critical factor in the workers compensation settlement landscape, yet they remain widely misunderstood by many professionals in the industry. In this Expert Insights episode, "Demystifying Medicare Set-Asides in Workers Comp," MEC’s Medical Management Consultant, Tina D’Andrea, unpacks how a properly executed MSA ensures compliance with Medicare requirements and provides clarity and protection for all parties involved in the settlement process. Tina shar...

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8:26

The Powerful Impact of Drug Screening on Claims...

MEC Connect ·

2025/06/02

Urine drug screens have become an essential component in the landscape of workers comp claims management. In this Expert Insights episode, "The Powerful Impact of Drug Screening on Claims Management," MEC’s Medical Management Consultant, Jeff Pack, RN, BSN, provides his unique perspective on how these tests serve multiple purposes throughout the lifecycle of a claim and can significantly impact treatment decisions, safety protocols, and claim outcomes. Jeff breaks down the science behin...

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6:21

Beyond Pain and Addiction: The Triple Diagnosis

MEC Connect ·

2025/05/19

The medical field has long recognized the complex intersection of chronic pain and addiction, but a critical third component is often overlooked. In this MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “Beyond Pain and Addiction: The Triple Diagnosis,” our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fernando Branco, shares his approach to treating patients beyond the traditional pain-addiction model. Dr. Branco discusses the framework of "triple diagnosis" in pain medicine. His decades of experience revealed that addres...

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6:41

Unsung Heroes: Spotlight on Nurse Case Managers

MEC Connect ·

2025/05/05

In this MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “Unsung Heroes: Spotlight on Nurse Case Managers,” MEC’s Medical Management Consultant Dana Dorsey explains how nurse case managers serve as the critical bridge between injured workers and successful recovery. Based on two decades of experience in the field, Dana shares insights about how Nurse Case Managers play a vital role in facilitating collaboration between injured workers, employers, healthcare providers, and insurance carriers. This include...

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8:10

Categorizing Spinal Cord Injuries with Peggy Ford

MEC Connect ·

2025/04/21

In this episode, MEC’s Senior National Medical Catastrophic Consultant Peggy Ford unpacks the complex world of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. Peggy breaks down this essential clinical tool that standardizes how healthcare professionals evaluate and communicate about spinal cord injuries. This includes: The three crucial components of the ASIA scale The scoring system for sensation Categories for measuring muscle strength Insights into how clinic...

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8:27

Navigating the Journey of Amputation Cases

MEC Connect ·

2025/04/07

Amputations are among the most challenging cases in workers' compensation. In this Expert Insights episode, MEC’s Senior National Catastrophic Medical Consultant Phyllis Ramondetta provides excellent insights into this complex topic that affects thousands of workers annually. Phyllis shares expert commentary based on over 20 years of experience as a catastrophic nurse case manager. This includes: How trauma accounts for 44% of all work-related amputations, typically in high-risk environments....

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7:11

Decoding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

MEC Connect ·

2025/03/24

In this episode, Dr. Fernando Branco, MEC AVP of Claims and Chief Medical Officer, tackles the multifaceted world of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) by drawing on decades of specialized experience in physical medicine, rehabilitation, pain management, and addiction medicine. Dr. Branco provides valuable insights about: How this complex diagnosis can create significant physical and emotional stress for patients.Why a proper CRPS diagnosis requires careful assessment of specific sym...

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8:29

Managing Spinal Cord Injuries with Tracie Lemus

MEC Connect ·

2025/03/10

In this episode, Tracie Lemus, RN, CCM, MSCC, National Catastrophic Nurse Consultant at Midwest Employers Casualty, highlights critical care strategies and rehabilitation insights for better recovery outcomes for spinal cord injuries. Tracie provides invaluable knowledge on injury types, common complications, and the importance of comprehensive treatment. Topics covered include: Understanding spinal cord injury demographics and causes The importance of immediate care and specialize...

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1:12

MEC Connect - Expert Insights

MEC Connect ·

2025/02/21

Join us for a new MEC Connect season featuring our innovative series of Expert Insights podcasts. These episodes highlight the expertise of MEC colleagues who share insights and best practices for managing catastrophic claims and our outcome-based approach for excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage that benefits workers and employers alike. This includes breaking down complex cases, conditions, and terminology to give you a deeper understanding of how they impact injured employees an...

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24:11

Resolving Complex Workers Compensation Claims

MEC Connect ·

2024/06/10

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke welcome back Dan Dalton, Chief Claims and Regulatory Counsel at MEC, to discuss the resolution process for complex and high-exposure workers compensation claims. Dan provides insights into when to begin settlement discussions, the steps involved in resolving these claims, and the role of mediation in reaching a compromise.Discussion Points:1. Timing and Steps for Resolution: Dan explains when to consider settlement and outlines t...

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11:36

Measures of Success in Complex Workers Compensation...

MEC Connect ·

2024/05/27

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke sit down with Vicki Barker, Senior Claims Analyst for at MEC, to discuss success stories and the positive impact MEC has made on injured workers’ lives through their handling of complex workers compensation claims. Vicki shares her perspective on measuring success, collaborating with partners, and achieving positive outcomes for all parties involved.Discussion Points:1. Defining Success: Vicki explains that success in excess work...

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10:44

Collaborating to Mitigate Costs on Complex Workers...

MEC Connect ·

2024/05/13

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty—Reinecke are joined by Gina Holt, former Client Consultant Manager and current ISI Underwriter at MEC, to discuss how MEC collaborates with clients and TPAs to mitigate costs on complex, potentially excess-level workers compensation claims. Gina shares insights on MEC's hybrid role, early intervention strategies, and leveraging internal resources to improve claim outcomes. Discussion Points:Early Intervention and Collaboration: Gina emphasizes the impor...

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15:13

Cost Containment and Mitigation

MEC Connect ·

2024/04/29

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27:59

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Reflex...

MEC Connect ·

2024/04/15

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15:05

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the...

MEC Connect ·

2024/04/01

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15:40

Failed Back Syndrome with Jeff Pack

MEC Connect ·

2024/03/18

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34 results

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