CHOICE Medical Management Issues a Call for Entries for Florida CHOICE Awards; Annual Program Recognizes Outstanding Workers' Compensation Physicians.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2004

CHOICE Medical Management Services is soliciting entries for the Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers' Compensation, its annual awards program recognizing outstanding physicians who treat patients under the Florida workers' compensation system.

"Experienced workers' comp physicians are extremely effective, provide a higher quality of care, and produce better outcomes with lower claims costs," said Tom Barrett, president and CEO of CHOICE. "The Florida CHOICE Awards recognize the important role physicians play in our workers' comp system and honor physicians who maintain high standards of excellence and consistently deliver better outcomes when treating workers' comp patients."

Criteria include delivering high quality care, promoting a return-to-work philosophy, and achieving a high rate of patient satisfaction. Anyone involved in the workers' compensation system, including injured employees and their employers, case managers, claims adjusters and managers, risk managers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs), can nominate a physician by logging onto http://www.FloridaChoiceAwards.com or calling 888-823-5377. Nominations are due by May 28, 2004. Awards will be presented on August 23, 2004 at the 59th Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida.

This is the second year for the awards program. CHOICE received nearly 200 nominations last year, and six physicians received the award.

Based in Tampa, Fla., CHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC is a full service, fully integrated workers' compensation managed care organization built upon proven cost-saving, return-to-work strategies that deliver tangible, measurable results. CHOICE serves insurance carriers, third-party administrators, municipalities, large employers and managed care organizations. For more information, contact Yvonne Halvaei, Marketing Manager at 813-282-9801 or [e-mail].

Florida CHOICE Awards Criteria

-- The physician must be a licensed Florida physician with at

least 5 years experience treating workers' compensation

patients

-- The physician must be an MD, DO, DC, DPM or PsyD

-- The physician must be board-certified or eligible in their

specialty

-- The physician's hospital privileges must be active and in good

standing, where applicable

-- Efficient staff, sets appointments in timely manner

-- Work status routinely provided at time of treatment

-- Demonstrates understanding and belief in return-to-work

philosophy

-- Communicates pertinent issues with all parties involved (e.g.,

employee, employer, adjuster, carrier, case manager, other

treating physicians)

-- Processes necessary paperwork within 48 hours of seeing

patient

-- Superior level of patient satisfaction