Managing Comorbid Conditions With Eric Patten

Public Risk Management

Our guest today is Eric Patten, RN, BSN, Senior Director of Clinical Education Services at One Call Care Management which is the nation’s leading provider of specialized solutions to the workers’ compensation industry. Eric and his team review reports on how to better address comorbid issues that commonly impact workers’ compensation claims such as hypertension, mental health issues, obesity, diabetes, substance abuse and tobacco use. What is a Comorbid Condition? Pre-existing conditions that an injured individual may or may not have – it could be anything like depression, anxiety from mental health issues to someone walking around with diabetes but not realizing it. Tobacco use is also a comorbid condition but in the short term doesn’t always affect claim issues however long term can enhance the possibility of a worker having hypertension, diabetes, cardiac issues and obesity.