MEC Connect

In our final Season 4 episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories, Peggy Ford, Senior National Catastrophic Medical Consultant at MEC, explores how disciplined medical review and a deep understanding of comorbidities can transform claim outcomes. Peggy walks us through two case studies that show how comorbidities and medication can reshape settlement planning, long-term care, and total exposure.  First,...

In this episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories, Phyllis Ramondetta, RN, CLCP, CCM, our recently retired Senior National Catastrophic Medical Management Consultant at MEC, explores how early, outcome-driven medical management can transform the trajectory of catastrophic workers compensation claims. Through two real-life traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, MEC’s Medical Management Consultants demonst...

In this episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories, Dana Dorsey, RN, BSN, CCM, MSCC Medical Management Consultant at MEC, takes a closer look at one of the most overlooked drivers of claim costs: pharmacy spend. What appears routine on the surface—the same prescription, dosage, and outcome—can carry vastly different costs depending on how and where it’s dispensed. Through two real-world cases from the...

In this episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories , Tracie Lemus, RN, CCM, MSCC, National Medical Management Consultant at MEC, examines two devastating spinal cord injuries that highlight the life-changing impact of early, coordinated medical management. Through the stories of “Mr. A” and “Mr. B,” listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at how MEC combines clinical expertise, proactive strategy, and...

In this episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories , Jeff Pack Medical Management Consultant at MEC , shares two compelling cases that highlight how proactive clinical oversight and disciplined cost management can significantly reduce medical spend without impacting the quality of care for injured workers. Jeff explores a rare and complex COVID‑19 vaccine–related claim involving immune thrombocytopenic...

In the first episode of MEC Connect Impact Stories , Tina D’Andrea, Sr. Nurse Case Manager at MEC , shares two powerful real‑world cases that demonstrate how the right people, results-driven processes, and trusted vendor partnerships can drive meaningful outcomes for injured workers — while delivering measurable cost savings for insureds. Tina walks listeners through a complex lightning‑strike inj...

Join us for our upcoming new season of MEC Connect later this month. MEC’s Medical Management Consultants will be sharing Impact Stories that spotlight catastrophic claims, loss‑mitigation strategies, and smarter care decisions. Each new episode will offer real-life stories about how outcome‑driven medical management lowers costs while delivering the most impactful treatment for injured workers. W...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has undergone significant evolution in both understanding and diagnosis over the past century. In our new MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “PTSD Diagnosis Dilemma,” our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fernando Branco, provides a comprehensive overview of PTSD, its progression in medical understanding, and why it is becoming overdiagnosed in modern practice.  Dr...

Burns represent one of the most devastating workplace injuries, with treatment costs potentially reaching millions of dollars and recovery periods extending for months or even years. Diving deep into the world of severe burn injuries, this episode, “Understanding Burn Injuries in the Workplace,” MEC’s Senior National Catastrophic Medical Consultant Phyllis Ramondetta unveils the staggering reality...

Understanding brain injuries can be overwhelming for patients, families, and caregivers alike because every brain injury follows a different recovery path. In this episode, “Rancho Los Amigos Scale: Roadmap for Brain Injury Recovery,” Tracie Lemus, RN, CCM, National Medical Catastrophic Nurse Consultant at MEC, breaks down the vital tool that healthcare professionals use to track cognitive and beh...

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is one of medicine's most critical assessment tools for traumatic brain injuries. In this episode, “ The Glasgow Coma Scale: Setting the Bar for Brain Injury Evaluation ," MEC’s Peggy Ford, a Senior National Medical Catastrophe Consultant with over 30 years of experience, provides essential knowledge about how the GCS measures brain injury severity. Peggy off...

Medicare Set-Asides (MSAs) represent a critical factor in the workers compensation settlement landscape, yet they remain widely misunderstood by many professionals in the industry. In this Expert Insights episode, "Demystifying Medicare Set-Asides in Workers Comp ," MEC’s Medical Management Consultant, Tina D’Andrea, unpacks how a properly executed MSA ensures compliance with Medicare re...

Urine drug screens have become an essential component in the landscape of workers comp claims management. In this Expert Insights episode, "The Powerful Impact of Drug Screening on Claims Management ," MEC’s Medical Management Consultant, Jeff Pack, RN, BSN, provides his unique perspective on how these tests serve multiple purposes throughout the lifecycle of a claim and can significantl...

The medical field has long recognized the complex intersection of chronic pain and addiction, but a critical third component is often overlooked. In this MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “Beyond Pain and Addiction: The Triple Diagnosis,” our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fernando Branco, shares his approach to treating patients beyond the traditional pain-addiction model. Dr. Branco discusses the...

In this MEC Connect Expert Insights episode, “Unsung Heroes: Spotlight on Nurse Case Managers,” MEC’s Medical Management Consultant Dana Dorsey explains how nurse case managers serve as the critical bridge between injured workers and successful recovery. Based on two decades of experience in the field, Dana shares insights about how Nurse Case Managers play a vital role in facilitating collaborati...

In this episode, MEC’s Senior National Medical Catastrophic Consultant Peggy Ford unpacks the complex world of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. Peggy breaks down this essential clinical tool that standardizes how healthcare professionals evaluate and communicate about spinal cord injuries. This includes: The three crucial components of the ASIA scale  The scoring sys...

Amputations are among the most challenging cases in workers' compensation. In this Expert Insights episode, MEC’s Senior National Catastrophic Medical Consultant Phyllis Ramondetta provides excellent insights into this complex topic that affects thousands of workers annually. Phyllis shares expert commentary based on over 20 years of experience as a catastrophic nurse case manager. This inclu...

In this episode, Dr. Fernando Branco, MEC AVP of Claims and Chief Medical Officer, tackles the multifaceted world of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) by drawing on decades of specialized experience in physical medicine, rehabilitation, pain management, and addiction medicine. Dr. Branco provides valuable insights about:  How this complex diagnosis can create significant physical and emotional...

In this episode, Tracie Lemus, RN, CCM, MSCC, National Catastrophic Nurse Consultant at Midwest Employers Casualty, highlights critical care strategies and rehabilitation insights for better recovery outcomes for spinal cord injuries. Tracie provides invaluable knowledge on injury types, common complications, and the importance of comprehensive treatment.  Topics covered include: Understanding spi...

Join us for a new MEC Connect season featuring our innovative series of Expert Insights podcasts. These episodes highlight the expertise of MEC colleagues who share insights and best practices for managing catastrophic claims and our outcome-based approach for excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage that benefits workers and employers alike. This includes breaking down complex cases, condi...

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke welcome back Dan Dalton, Chief Claims and Regulatory Counsel at MEC, to discuss the resolution process for complex and high-exposure workers compensation claims. Dan provides insights into when to begin settlement discussions, the steps involved in resolving these claims, and the role of mediation in reaching a compromise. Discussion Points: 1.        Timing a...

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke sit down with Vicki Barker, Senior Claims Analyst for at MEC, to discuss success stories and the positive impact MEC has made on injured workers’ lives through their handling of complex workers compensation claims. Vicki shares her perspective on measuring success, collaborating with partners, and achieving positive outcomes for all parties involved. Discussio...

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty—Reinecke are joined by Gina Holt, former Client Consultant Manager and current ISI Underwriter at MEC, to discuss how MEC collaborates with clients and TPAs to mitigate costs on complex, potentially excess-level workers compensation claims. Gina shares insights on MEC's hybrid role, early intervention strategies, and leveraging internal resources to improve claim...

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke are joined by Marianne Reed, Senior Claims Analyst at MEC, to discuss strategies for containing and mitigating costs in complex workers compensation claims. Marianne shares her expertise on identifying cost drivers, collaborating with stakeholders, and implementing targeted interventions to improve outcomes and reduce expenses. Discussion Points: Cost Drivers...

Hosts Matt Yehling and Patty Reinecke sit down with Dr. Fernando Branco, MEC's Chief Medical Officer, to discuss Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Dr. Branco shares his expertise on these challenging diagnoses, explaining how they can develop from seemingly minor injuries and the difficulties in accurately diagnosing and treating these conditions. D...