IWCI Shows Knowledge on Workers Compensation at Seminar

The Work Comp 360: IWCI Northwest Indiana Chapter Annual Seminar took place on Wednesday at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville. The IWCI (Indiana Worker's Compensation Institute, Inc.) is a networking group of workplace professionals who promotes and conducts programs of general education in worker's compensation and related areas.

"This is a very large networking event for worker's compensation professionals including: case managers, adjusters physicians, therapists, and employers," Roberta Tuft, Corporate Health Consultant for Porter Regional Hospital said. "We have wonderful sponsors who helped make the event possible."

Karen Johnson, President of the NWI Champter of the IWCI and Director of Marketing and Worker's Compensation for Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute added, "It's basically an education forum to encourage continued education. And those who attend get five continuing education credits for attending today."

This was an all-day event with lots of great items on the agenda. The morning began at 8am with a delicious breakfast to keep energy levels up, then it was off to the morning segment of breakout sessions. Many notable people came to speak at the breakout sessions. They each spoke on topics that dealt with their expertise.

The speakers at the seminar were:

  • Gregory Hale, PhD – Psychologist
  • Heather Schwartz Sanderson, Esq. – PMSI Settlement Solutions
  • Loree Hanas, Facility Compliance and Privacy Officer - Porter Regional Hospital
  • Shaun Kondamuri, MD, Pain Management Specialist - Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists
  • Craig Van Schouwen, Attorney/Partner - Blachly, Tabor, Bozik, Hartman
  • Joseph Schwartz, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon - Bone & Joint Specialists
  • Will Sowders, PI, CFEI - WDS Investigations
  • Mary Taivalkoski, Executive Administrator; Claudette Liongson, Case Coordinator; Marley Hancock, Case Coordinator – Indiana Work Comp Board
  • Anton Thompkins, MD, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon - Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute

Following was lunch. People discussed the various topics of the breakout sessions, mingled and networked, and ate their meals. After their plates were cleared, Dr. Mike Thomson stood to speak. Dr. Mike (as he is known by) is a motivational speaker that speaks all over the world. You can hear him on the radio and see him on TV. Dr. Mike is a published author and was the keynote speaker for the event. He gavea much needed presentation to those in attendance called Strategies for Saving Your Sanity.

"It doesn't matter whether it's in the workplace or in the classroom, everybody is looking for a strategy to save their sanity," Dr. Mike said. "They want to know how to deal with people that talk back or who are rude. They want to know how to deal with customer service, their kids and grand-kids. I'm going to talk about how to save your sanity in the everyday workplace. This talk connects with the seminar because these people are dealing with workman's comp. They are in tough situations, working with demanding people and stress.

Once the presentation was over, the afternoon breakout sessions came next. Then at 4pm the seminar came to an end. Everyone who had the chance to attend this unique and informative seminar left happy.

Click here to see more photos from the seminar!

Platinum Sponsors: Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers; Community Spine and Neurosurgery Institute; Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute; Diveris Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana

Gold Sponsors: Bone and Joint Specialists, PC; Diveris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, PC; Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists

Silver Sponsors: Coventry; Franciscan WorkingWell; ManageAbility; Objective Dx; PDM; Comprehensive Care; CorVel Corporation; Electric Waveform Lab, Inc.; Health at Work - Porter Regional Hospital; South Bend Orthopaedics; Community Healthcare System Occupational Health; Align Networks; Allied Physical Therapy; Modern Medical, Inc.; One Call Care Management; NeuroRestorative; Ortholndy; DocRx; Select Physical Therapy; AccessOnTime; ATI Physical Therapy; Flexeon Rehabilitation; PMSI; Joints in Motion Medical, LLC; WDS Investigations, Inc.