Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Orthop 2020 Nov-Dec;22:48-52. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

The Center for Advanced Sports Medicine Knee and Shoulder, 90 Millburn Ave, Suite 204 Millburn, NJ, USA.

Objective: Evaluation and treatment of workplace knee injuries with pre existing arthritis is difficult from both a causality and a clinical perspective. The current study evaluates the relevance and treatment of the bone marrow edema (BME) in injured workers.

Methods: 179 patients who injured their knee at work and were found to have arthritis and BME and subsequently underwent subchondral calcium phosphate injections (subchondroplasty) were reviewed. Read More

J Occup Rehabil 2020 Apr 6. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Introduction Occupational rehabilitation often involves functional capacity evaluations (FCE) that use simulated work tasks to assess work ability. Currently, there exists no single, streamlined solution to simulate all or a large number of standard work tasks. Such a system would improve FCE and functional rehabilitation through simulating reaching maneuvers and more dexterous functional tasks that are typical of workplace activities. Read More

Heliyon 2020 Feb 3;6(2):e03281. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, cep 05503-900, São Paulo, Brazil.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function. Intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (icv-STZ) has been used as an experimental model of Sporadic AD (SAD) in rodents and represents a promising tool for etiopathogenic analysis and evaluation of new therapeutic proposals for AD. The icv-STZ model shows many aspects of SAD abnormalities, resulting in decreased brain glucose and energy metabolism, cognitive impairment, oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and amyloid angiopathy. Read More

PLoS One 2019 30;14(12):e0226386. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, JBSA, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Objective: To determine the intersession reliability of the Readiness Evaluation during Simulated Dismounted Operations (REDOp), a novel ecologically-based assessment for injured Service Members, provide minimal detectable change values, and normative reference range values. To evaluate the ability to differentiate performance limitations between able-bodied and injured individuals using the REDOp.

Design: Repeated measures design and between group comparison. Read More

Ann Work Expo Health 2020 Feb;64(2):152-164

SHARP Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA, USA.

Objectives: Varied work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) claim rates were found between companies even when they were in the same sectors with similar sizes. This study aimed to (i) identify common risk factors for back, shoulder, hand/wrist, and knee WMSDs among manufacturing jobs, and (ii) characterize the biomechanical exposures in jobs and work organizational practices between high and low WMSD claim rate companies so that more focused, industry-specific intervention strategies may be developed.

Methods: Using historical workers' compensation data, manufacturing companies were divided into two paired groups (low and high in the lower 25%ile and higher 75%ile, respectively). Read More

IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot 2019 06;2019:181-186

Occupational rehabilitation is an integral part of the recovery process for workers who have sustained injuries at the workplace. It often requires the injured worker to engage in functional tasks that simulate the workplace environment to help regain their functional capabilities and allow for a return to employment. We present a system comprised of a robotic arm for recreating the physical dynamics of functional tasks and a 3D Augmented Reality (AR) display for immersive visualization of the tasks. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Jul 19;19(1):171. Epub 2019 Jul 19.

Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing experience for the individuals with SCI and their families. This study aimed to investigate physical strategies used for overcoming physical disability in individuals with SCI.

Methods: In this qualitative study, 17 SCI persons and 13 family caregivers were selected by a purposeful sampling. Read More

Emerg Med J 2019 Oct 10;36(10):620-624. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Bellville, South Africa.

Objectives: The last decade has seen rapid expansion of emergency care systems across Africa, although they remain underdeveloped. In Zambia, the Ministry of Health has taken interest in improving the situation and data are needed to appropriately guide system strengthening efforts. The Emergency Care Assessment Tool (ECAT) provides a context-specific means of measuring capacity of healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2019 08 29;30(3):657-669. Epub 2019 May 29.

UNC Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, NC Memorial Hospital, CB #7200, 101 Manning Drive, Room N1183, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

The concepts associated with work disability are not identical to those associated with medical disability. In addition to a worker's medical condition, the resultant functional limitations, and loss of participation in society, the injured or ill worker must often navigate a complex administrative system that often seems adversarial. This process is made less adversarial with the willingness to participate of knowledgeable clinicians. Read More

Australas Emerg Care 2019 Dec 6;22(4):236-242. Epub 2019 Jun 6.

Clinical Governance Unit, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Locked Mail Bag 10, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

Introduction: The geographical vastness of Australia in rural and remote regions provides challenges for hospital nursing staff when a medical officer is not immediately available. Delaying treatment until a medical officer arrives can potentially impact on patient outcomes. Some Registered Nurses in rural and remote New South Wales have received advanced training and credentialing through the First Line Emergency Care Course (FLECC) enabling them to initiate treatment prior to the medical officer's arrival. Read More

J Surg Res 2019 10 6;242:55-61. Epub 2019 May 6.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

Background: A majority of severely injured patients fail to receive care at trauma centers (undertriage), in part, because of physician judgment. We previously developed two educational video games that reduced physicians' undertriage compared with control in two clinical trials. In this secondary analysis, we investigated heterogeneity of treatment effect of the interventions by assessing physicians' preexisting practice patterns in claims data. Read More

J Surg Res 2019 08 9;240:201-205. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey. Electronic address:

Background: The practice of marking gunshot wounds and obtaining X-rays (XRs) has been performed to determine the trajectory of missiles to help identify internal injuries. We hypothesized that surgeons would have poor accuracy in predicting injuries and that X-rays do not alter the clinical decision.

Methods: We developed a 50-patient (89 injury sites) PowerPoint survey based on cases seen at our level 1 trauma center from 2012 to 2014. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 7;10:144. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR) - CISSS de Laval, and School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Driving an automobile is an important activity for the social participation of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Return to safe driving is usually addressed during rehabilitation, but we know little about driving behaviors in the years following TBI rehabilitation. To explore self-reported and objective (official driving records) post-rehabilitation driving behaviors and offenses in individuals with TBI: (a) having passed a driving evaluation, (b) who did not undergo a driving evaluation, and (c) non-injured controls. Read More

Ann Epidemiol 2019 04 14;32:7-13. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Informatics and Analytics, Nashville, TN; Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.

Purpose: This is the first study in Tennessee to measure opioid use in injured workers and among the first nationally to use a prescription drug monitoring program to do so. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the prevalence of opioid use after injury and associated characteristics among workers reporting one injury to Tennessee Workers' Compensation.

Methods: Injured workers identified in Workers' Compensation records 2013-2015 were linked to their prescription history in Tennessee's prescription drug monitoring database. Read More

Burns 2019 08 6;45(5):1031-1040. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Harvard Medical School, United States. Electronic address:

Introduction: There is limited understanding of how burn injuries at different ages are associated with normal growth and development as well as the burn recovery process. This study provides new useful insights by comparing social participation outcomes among burn survivors injured in childhood compared with injuries sustained in middle age, and older adulthood.

Methods: Items from the development of the LIBRE profile were administered to 601 adult burn survivors with ≥5% TBSA burned or burns to critical areas (hands, feet, face, or genitals). Read More

J R Army Med Corps 2019 Oct 19;165(5):342-345. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.

Background: General Practice training in the civilian and military environments follows a common training pathway, yet the scope of practice of a military General Practitioner (GP) varies significantly. A level of care for the acutely unwell and traumatically injured patients is frequently provided in austere environments remotely located from definitive medical care. This qualitative service needs evaluation scopes current level of trauma and acute care training and requirement for further training within military GPs and GP trainees. Read More

Aust J Prim Health 2018 Jan;24(6):502-509

School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the return-to-work process, and yet their experiences working with workplace Return-to-Work Coordinators (RTWCs) have rarely been studied. The aim of this paper is to provide insights from the GP perspective about their experiences with workplace RTWCs and their preparedness for the role. GPs from Australian states and territories where legislation mandates workplaces employ a RTWC were requested to complete a questionnaire on their experiences with workplace RTWCs. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2018 08 28;20(8):e257. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, United States.

Background: Web-based peer support interventions have shown promise in reducing social isolation and social support deficits among informal caregivers, but little research has examined how caregivers use and perceive these interventions.

Objective: In this study, we examined utilization and perceptions of a Web-based social support intervention for informal caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured United States military service members and veterans.

Methods: This was a mixed-methods study that used quantitative survey data and qualitative data from focus groups and interviews with informal caregivers enrolled in a Web-based peer support intervention to explore their use and perceptions of the intervention. Read More

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2018 Jun 27;26(1):52. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Globally, armed conflict is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity. The treatment of war-associated injuries is largely experience-based. Evidence is weak due to difficulty in conducting medical research in war settings. Read More

Pediatr Crit Care Med 2018 08;19(8):e417-e424

Perlman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Objectives: To describe provider characteristics, knowledge acquisition, perceived relevance, and instruction quality of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Pediatric Fundamentals of Critical Care Support course pilot implementation in Botswana.

Design: Observational, single center.

Setting: Academic, upper middle-income country. Read More

J Spec Oper Med Summer 2018;18(2):42-48

Background: We sought to assess the rehabilitation process, training, performance, and injury rates among those participating and not participating in the Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid Rehabilitation, and Reconditioning (THOR3) program and determine injury risk factors.

Methods: A survey inquiring about personal characteristics, injuries, physical performance, and THOR3 participation during the previous 12 months was administered to Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) Soldiers. Based on responses to physical training, Soldiers were categorized into three groups: a traditional physical training (TPT) group, a cross-training (CT) group, and a THOR3 group. Read More

Mil Med 2018 11;183(11-12):e555-e563

Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7550 Interstate Highway 10 West, Suite 1325, San Antonio, TX.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two of the signature injuries in military service members who have been exposed to explosive blasts during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Acute stress disorder (ASD), which occurs within 2-30 d after trauma exposure, is a more immediate psychological reaction predictive of the later development of PTSD. Most previous studies have evaluated service members after their return from deployment, which is often months or years after the initial blast exposure. Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rev 2019 ;15(1):50-58

Medical Centre & Rehabilitation Department, Defence Primary Healthcare, Infantry Training Centre Catterick Garrison, DL9 3PS, United Kingdom.

Background: Musculoskeletal Injury (MSKI), a common problem in both military and physically active civilian populations, has been suggested to result from both extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

Objective: To investigate prospectively whether gait biomechanics, aerobic fitness levels and smoking status as well as entry military selection test variables can be used to predict MSKI development during recruit training.

Methods: British infantry male recruits (n = 562) were selected for the study. Read More

Crit Care Nurse 2018 Apr;38(2):e1-e6

CDR Virginia S. Blackman, NC, USN, is an assistant professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.

Background: US Navy nurses provide en route care for critically injured combat casualties without having a formal program for training, utilization, or evaluation. Little is known about missions supported by Navy nurses.

Objectives: To characterize the number and types of patients transported and skill sets required by Navy nurses during 2 combat support deployments. Read More

Mil Med 2018 09;183(9-10):e383-e391

Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Diego, CA.

Introduction: Military prehospital and en route care (ERC) directly impacts patient morbidity and mortality. Provider knowledge and skills are critical variables in the effectiveness of ERC. No Navy doctrine defines provider choice for patient transport or requires standardized provider training. Read More

Mil Med 2018 09;183(9-10):e603-e611

Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, USS Tranquillity Bldg 1007, Recruit Evaluation Unit, 3420 Illinoi St., Great Lakes, IL.

Introduction: US Navy recruits who have injuries preventing them from participating in intense physical conditioning are pulled out of boot camp training and receive treatment that includes daily physical therapy, pain medications, and psychoeducational groups. Graduation from boot camp for these recruits requires not only recovering from their injuries but also passing a required Physical Fitness Assessment consisting of a timed 1.5-mile run, curl-ups, and push-ups. Read More

Ergonomics 2018 Aug 8;61(8):1094-1101. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

b Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.

This study aimed to compare the activity of four shoulder muscles in individuals with low back pain (LBP), spinal cord injuries (SCI) and a control group, during one-handed load transfer trials. Nine individuals with minimum one-year of LBP, eleven with thoracic/lumbar SCI and nine healthy controls participated in this study. The activations of anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, infraspinatus and pectoralis major were recorded by surface EMG during one-handed transferring of a cylinder from a home shelve to six spatially distributed target shelves. Read More

Health Phys 2018 03;114(3):373-378

*Idaho State University, College of Science and Engineering, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8065, Pocatello, ID 83209-8065.

Depleted uranium (DU) munitions were initially used by the United States (U.S.) military during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 in order to penetrate heavily armored vehicles. Read More

Technol Health Care 2018 ;26(2):249-261

Military Academy, "General Mihailo Apostolski", Skopje, University "Goce Delcev", Stip, Macedonia.

Background And Objectives: Categorization of the casualties in accordance with medical care priorities is crucial in a military environment. Automation of the triage process is still a challenging task. The goal of the paper is to propose a novel algorithm for automation of medical emergency protocol in the military environment by the creation of classifiers that can provide accurate prioritization of injured soldier cases. Read More

J Athl Train 2017 Dec 11;52(12):1153-1160. Epub 2017 Dec 11.

Sports Medicine Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington.

Context:   Seventy-seven percent of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by United States Army Special Forces Operators are preventable. Identification of predictive characteristics will promote the development of screening methods to augment injury-prevention programs.

Objective:   To determine physical and performance characteristics that predict musculoskeletal injuries. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2020 Jan 26;101(1S):S86-S91. Epub 2017 Nov 26.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Objective: To examine differences in long-term social reintegration outcomes for burn survivors with and without work-related injuries.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Community-dwelling burn survivors. Read More

BMJ Open 2017 Nov 16;7(11):e017390. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Objectives: Few studies examine the influence of early predictors of work absence beyond 12 months following injury or the time-dependent relative importance of these factors. This study aimed to identify the most important sociodemographic, occupational, health, lifestyle and injury predictors of work absence at 12 and 24 months following injury and to examine changes in the relative importance of these over time.

Design: Prospective cohort study. Read More

Neurology 2017 Nov 13;89(19):2010-2016. Epub 2017 Oct 13.

From the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (J.W.T.); Children's Foundation Research Center (J.W.T.), Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (J.W.T., F.J.H., P.F.P.); Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (L.A.S., M.R., R.S.H., B.N.P., P.F.P., M.W., C.E.T., K.S.), Bethesda, MD; Naval Medical Center San Diego (R.L.), CA; Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (S.L.); Neuroscience Consultants, PLC (E.F.), Reston; and Information Innovators, Inc (A.H.C.), Springfield, VA.

Objective: To examine whether blast exposure alone and blast-associated concussion result in similar neurologic and mental health symptoms.

Methods: A 14-item questionnaire was administered to male US Marines on their return from deployment in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.

Results: A total of 2,612 Marines (median age 22 years) completed the survey. Read More

Mil Med 2017 09;182(9):e1864-e1870

Department of Surgery, Alrijne Hospital, Simon Smitweg 1, 2353 GA Leiderdorp, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: An important factor within the military medical logistical chain is the capability of expeditious evacuation from point of injury, through a Medical Treatment Facility, to the country of residence where highest level of care can be provided. Although many factors can relate to patient outcome, the evaluation of the medical evacuation chain related to long-term patient outcome can be important for investigating possibilities for performance improvement in this domain. This article aims to provide a means to evaluate the quality of care of the medical evacuation chain. Read More

Mil Med 2017 07;182(7):e1862-e1868

U.S. Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, 3630 Stanley Road, Building 2841, Suite 1301, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries present a significant challenge to military readiness accounting for over 29% of ambulatory medical visits and 25 million limited duty days across the U.S. Army. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2019 Jun;35(6):403-406

Pediatric Orthopedics, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Haifa, Israel.

Objective: Smartphones have the ability to capture and send images, and their use has become common in the emergency setting for transmitting radiographic images with the intent to consult an off-site specialist. Our objective was to evaluate the reliability of smartphone-based instant messaging applications for the evaluation of various pediatric limb traumas, as compared with the standard method of viewing images of a workstation-based picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

Methods: X-ray images of 73 representative cases of pediatric limb trauma were captured and transmitted to 5 pediatric orthopedic surgeons by the Whatsapp instant messaging application on an iPhone 6 smartphone. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2017 12 21;98(12):2355-2363. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Objective: To examine whether motivational interviewing (MI) leads to more sustainable return-to-work outcomes for injured workers undergoing rehabilitation.

Design: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Workers' compensation rehabilitation facility. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Jun;96(25):e7274

aDivision of Physiotherapy, Department of Medical and Health Sciences bRehab Väst, County Council of Östergötland, Departments of Rehabilitation and Medical and Health Sciences cCentre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University dAllied Health Professionals Function, Karolinska University Hospital eDivision of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge fKarolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine, Stockholm gDivision of Health Care Analysis, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.

Background: Fifty percent of people injured by whiplash still report neck pain after 1 year and costs associated with whiplash associated disorders (WAD) are mostly attributed to health service and sick-leave costs in chronic conditions. With increasing health care expenditures the economic impact of interventions needs to be considered.

Objective: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of physiotherapist-led neck-specific exercise without (NSE) or with a behavioral approach (NSEB), or prescription of physical activity (PPA) in chronic WAD, grade 2 to 3. Read More

J Emerg Nurs 2018 Jan 17;44(1):19-25. Epub 2017 Jun 17.

Roanoke, VA.

Problem: Nurses are crucial members of the team caring for the acutely injured trauma patient. Until recently, nurses and physicians gained an understanding of leadership and supportive roles separately. With the advent of a multidisciplinary team approach to trauma care, formal team training and simulation has transpired. Read More

Health Promot Pract 2017 07 21;18(4):505-515. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

4 VA Puget Sound Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

We designed a safety and health curriculum for dairy immigrant workers aiming to increase knowledge, encourage safe behavior, and reduce worker communication inequalities to prevent occupational injury and diseases. The design is largely based on the Taxonomy of Significant Learning and incorporated behavioral and adult learning theories and principles of occupational hazard control. Trainings were implemented with 836 Spanish-speaking workers from 67 farms in Wisconsin. Read More

J Occup Rehabil 2018 06;28(2):252-264

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Purpose Although functional restoration programs appear effective in assisting injured workers to return-to-work (RTW) after a work related musculoskeletal (MSK) disorder, the addition of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to these programs may result in higher RTW. Methods We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial with claimants attending an occupational rehabilitation facility from November 17, 2014 to June 30, 2015. Six clinicians provided MI in addition to the standard functional restoration program and formed an intervention group. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2017 05 10;19(5):e159. Epub 2017 May 10.

Center for the Study of Chronic Illness and Disability, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.

Background: In order to meet the challenges of caring for an injured person, caregivers need access to health information. However, caregivers often feel that they lack adequate information. Previous studies of caregivers have primarily focused on either their time and emotional burdens or their health outcomes, but the information needs of caregivers have not been thoroughly investigated. Read More

Mil Med 2017 03;182(3):e1651-e1658

Alaska Radiology Associates, TBI Imaging and Research, 3650 Piper Street, Suite A, Anchorage, AK 99508.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major health concern among active duty service members and Veterans returning from combat operations, and it can result in variable clinical and cognitive outcomes. Identifying biomarkers that can improve diagnosis and prognostication has been at the forefront of recent research efforts. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of abnormalities identified using more traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences such as fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) to more advanced MRI sequences such as susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) among a cohort of active duty service members experiencing persistent cognitive symptoms after mTBI. Read More

BMC Emerg Med 2017 03 9;17(1). Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Departments of Family Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Quality Assurance Program Coordinator for Family Medicine Residency, Residency Program Research Coordinator, Family Medicine Residency Program, McMaster University, 100 Main Street West, 5th Floor, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1H6, Canada.

Background: Seniors living in subsidized housing have lower income, poorer health, and increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases and falls. Seniors also account for more than one third of calls to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This study examines the effectiveness of the Community Health Assessment Program through EMS (CHAP-EMS) in reducing blood pressure, diabetes risk, and EMS calls. Read More

Aust Health Rev 2018 Apr;42(2):164-167

Health Strategy Group, WorkSafe Victoria, 222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia. Email:.

Primary care practitioners play a critical role in supporting return to work (RTW) and minimising the detrimental physical and psychosocial sequelae of unnecessary and prolonged work absence in injured and ill workers. Accurate and consistent certification of capacity is an essential component of this role that has been scrutinised recently given the identified variation in certification practices between and within professions. This Perspective outlines the importance of correct certification of capacity for injured workers and provides a RTW flowchart to support systematised and appropriate certification. Read More

J Occup Rehabil 2018 03;28(1):68-79

School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.

Purpose Workplace injury and illness rates are high within the nursing profession, and in conjunction with current nursing shortages, low retention rates, and the high cost of workplace injury, the need for effective return to work (RTW) for injured nurses is highlighted. This study aimed to identify current practices and processes used in the RTW of injured nurses, and determine if these are consistent with the seven principles for successful RTW as described by the Canadian Institute for Work & Health. Method As part of a larger cross-sectional study, survey data were collected from New South Wales nurses who had sustained a major workplace injury or illness. Read More

J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2017 Mar;25(3):e45-e52

From the Department of Orthopedics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.

Workers' compensation is an employer-funded insurance program that provides financial and medical benefits for employees injured at work. Because many occupational injuries are musculoskeletal in nature, the orthopaedic surgeon plays an important role in the workers' compensation system. Along with establishing the correct diagnosis and implementing an appropriate treatment plan, the clinician must understand the fundamental components of the workers' compensation system to manage an injured employee. Read More

Mil Med 2017 01;182(1):e1658-e1664

Director, Center for the Intrepid, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.

A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) evaluates the ability of an individual to perform activities related to employment. There is no FCE specific to the military population; therefore, a FCE for the military population (FCE-M) was developed to evaluate an injured service member's (SM) ability to return to duty. The FCE-M is herein described along with descriptions of three active duty SMs who completed the evaluation. Read More

Pediatrics 2016 12 11;138(6). Epub 2016 Nov 11.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Pediatric Life Support (PLS) courses and instructional programs are educational tools developed to teach resuscitation and stabilization of children who are critically ill or injured. A number of PLS courses have been developed by national professional organizations for different health care providers (eg, pediatricians, emergency physicians, other physicians, prehospital professionals, pediatric and emergency advanced practice nurses, physician assistants). PLS courses and programs have attempted to clarify and standardize assessment and treatment approaches for clinical practice in emergency, trauma, and critical care. Read More