New 7^th Ed. Official Disability Guidelines Tops 2002’s “Most Wanted” list of Work Comp & Disability Management Tools

January 2002 - Work Loss Data Institute has released Official Disability Guidelines 2002, the highly anticipated 7^th edition of ODG, with fully updated and expanded “Best Practice” Guidelines and over 1.5 million new cases from the CDC & OSHA.  Three powerful new features have also been added: average medical costs, integrated ICD-10 codes, and chiropractic guidelines.

Much of the hype surrounding the 7^th edition is attributable to a new Senior Medical Editor leading the ODG Advisory Board, Mohammed Ranavaya MD, MS, FFOM, FRCPI, FACPM, FAADEP, CIME (President, American Board of Independent Medical Examiners).  His experience, achievement and vision in occupational health and disability medicine are well known throughout the world, even paramount.

Industry expert and WLDI Account Executive, Phil LeFevre, recalls the “undisputable migration towards the evidence-based approach of Official Disability Guidelines rapidly swallowing up ground, making ODG 2002 the clear cut choice for most wanted among disability guidelines in the current market.”

New features for 2002 provide an added incentive to users - typically providers, insurers, employers and case managers.  For each diagnosis, ODG now provides an Average Medical Cost, based on huge caseloads from the Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project, produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.  ICD-10 codes, already in use internationally and more than likely on the domestic front, are provided in detail throughout the updated reference as they map to their ICD-9 counterparts.  Finally, for those conditions where it may significantly affect recovery, ODG now provides recommended frequency and duration of chiropractic care, or Chiropractic “Best Practice” Guidelines, as established by an Editorial Advisory Board of over 80 members.

In this post September 11 world, workplace health and productivity is especially important to the economy, business & industry, and even the national spirit.  Official Disability Guidelines is this year’s most dependable, straightforward, evidence-based resource for managing lost time and maximizing health, wellness and productivity in the workplace.