Physicians Recognized for Treating Workers’ Compensation Patients

Five Florida physicians received the 2005 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation, an honor granted to physicians who demonstrate excellence in treating injured employees.

Former Secretary of Health and Human services and President of the University of Miami, Donna E. Shalala, presented the keynote address at a grand reception and was on hand to congratulate the winners.

The 2005 Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation winners are:

• Vladimir Alexander, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Alexander Orthopedic Associates in Largo;

• David Gilbert, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Broward Orthopedic Specialists in Ft. Lauderdale;

• Mario Medero, M.D., an occupational medicine physician with Medero Medical, a five-location clinic based in Ocala;

• Mark Rubenstein, M.D., FAAPMR a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with Gold Coast Orthopedics in West Palm Beach; and

• Seth Charles Wachsman, M.D., an anesthesiologist with Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants in Tamarac.

The winners were selected from more than 93 nominees after a stringent, multi-level judging process. Judging criteria was based on the physician’s record of delivering of high quality care, promoting a return-to-work philosophy and achieving a high rate of patient satisfaction. Individuals involved in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, including risk managers, claims professionals, nurse case managers, adjusters, employers, physician staff, and injured employees nominated the doctors.

CHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC, a Florida-based workers’ compensation specialty health care management organization, launched the annual awards program in 2003 to recognize medical excellence in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, according to Thomas F. Barrett, Jr., president and CEO of CHOICE.

“The program underscores our belief that physicians have the greatest impact on the outcome of a worker’s compensation claim,” Barrett said. “Experienced workers’ comp physicians are extremely effective, provide a higher quality of care, and produce better outcomes with lower claims costs.”

The Florida CHOICE Award for Workers’ Compensation were presented on Aug. 23 during the 60th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando. Awards sponsors were: CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC, Network Synergy Inc., One Call Medical Inc., Unisource Administrators Inc. and ZoneCare USA.

Based in Tampa, CHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC is a specialty health care management organization, focused on workers’ compensation and disability management services. CHOICE serves insurance carriers, third-party administrators, professional employer organizations, municipalities, government entities, and self-insured employers.