Trace Kelly Brings a New Perspective to KPAs Team
Episode 9: In this episode, KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Trace Kelly, one of Kentucky Pain Associate’s advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), who is also a chiropractor. Trace is a valuable member of the KPA team bringing additional perspectives to the care and treatment of patients being treated for motor vehicle accident related injuries.
Why Have a Chiropractor on Staff at KPA?
Kurt explains that Dr. Jason Lewis, the Medical Director at KPA, has always supervised the nurse practitioners on staff. Nurse practitioners (APRNs) can diagnose, prescribe and order specific patient therapy. They approach the patient from a purely medical perspective.
KPA has routinely seen patients referred to them by chiropractors. Trace Kelly was one of those chiropractors. There are certain treatments, including prescriptions, that chiropractors can’t issue. However, Dr. Lewis and our nurse practitioners are able to do that, as needed.
Trace Kelly has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. He has over 10 years of experience treating automobile accident patients. He later earned his nursing license and his additional education to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. This provides a very unique combination of skills and experience when treating injured patients.
Trace explains that he really enjoys working as part of a team. As part of the KPA team, he’s able to leverage his extensive background in the musculoskeletal area, which he honed as during his 20 years as a chiropractor. Because Kentucky Pain Associates primarily treats auto accident injuries, this knowledge and skill set is proving invaluable. He comments that being chiropractor has made him a better nurse, and being a nurse has made him a better chiropractor.
Does this Present a Conflict for Referring Chiropractors?
Interestingly, it’s actually an advantage. Trace explains that actually, he’s very much an ally for outside chiropractors who are referring patients or considering it. He understands their needs and how they treat patients. He literally speaks their language.
Medical Documentation for a Patient’s Treatment and Injury Claim
A strong advantage KPA offers to both injured patients and attorneys who may be involved in handling the accident injury claims is the in-depth medical notes and narratives KPA provides. Trace is peer-review certified in Kentucky. He has an extreme level of detail, making it much easier for an attorney to build an effective case.
Because he has two medical specialties, the types of treatments he recommends, based on identification of root causes, can ensure a more thorough recovery. Again, he’s viewing the patient from the perspective of a chiropractor and a registered nurse.
Trace functions as a very valuable advocate for his patients, particularly those in under-served population. He ensures they’re benefitting from a more holistic approach to treating the overall situation.
Advantages for the Personal Injury Attorney
Injury claims and cases are strongly dependent upon the medical documentation related to the injuries, including not only the diagnosis but the treatment path as well. As previously stated, Trace Kelly is peer-review certified. He believes this makes him a better provider. He wants the documentation and the evidence-based care he provides to be “solid.” Part of the motivation he had for pursuing this certification is to attempt to improve his profession, as a chiropractor.
Trace explains that many primary care providers refuse to see personal injury patients. They literally turn them away. If they do decide to treat the injured patient, how they document the situation in the medical narratives can inadvertently devastate the injury-victim’s accident and injury claim.
Note: Host Jim Ray is not an attorney. When he discusses receiving “a record that’s this built out with that level of care and consistency, I can rest assured that this is solid…” he’s speaking from the perspective of an attorney who may be receiving medical records from KPA.
Trace points out that these cases are medical-legal hybrids. When you document the case, you need to approach it from this hybrid standpoint. The language is different than what may be found in a normal medical record. Specific language, especially when it’s not present in the record, will have an impact on the value of the claim or case the attorney is building on behalf of the injured individual.
Trace Kelly is Independent Medical Examination Certified
Kentucky Pain Associates also treats individuals who are filing workers’ compensation claims. The Independent Medical Exam (IME) is a critical part of the worker’s comp claim. The medial professional performing the IME will document how the injury has impacted the worker in terms of performing the tasks related to have a normal life. The impairment rating is a vital assessment that can have a direct impact on the workers’ comp benefits an injured worker will receive.
There are 3 types of medical professionals who can perform IMEs:
- Medical Doctors
- Osteopaths
- Chiropractors
Court and Trial Experience
Trace has done many depositions and made numerous court appearances. This experience helps him to practice differently and to document more thoroughly, because he understands the importance of the medical records for the patient and his/her attorney.
Treating Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries
Kurt explains that KPA has been involved in objectively testing for the existence of brain injuries. They’ve also added TBI assessments from neuropsychologists. Surprisingly, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often overlooked in the ER. TBIs don’t typically show up in MRIs or CT scans. He comments that Trace has identified additional ways for KPA to preliminarily test for TBIs.
Trace discusses the positive impact simply screening for brain injuries has had on the community. The missed diagnoses in the ER can leave a patient with long-term complications, including behavioral health conditions (some leading to depression and/or suicide).
The ACE Diagnostic Test (Acute Concussion Evaluation) is supported by the CDC for both adults and children. The MACE 2 (Military Acute Concussion Evaluation) was developed to evaluate mild TBIs (i.e. concussions). Both are used by KPA as primers alerting the medical staff that the patient should be recommended for more extensive TBI testing. That testing can also be performed at the Kentucky Pain Associates offices.
Traumatic Brain Injuries are permanent injuries. Rather than focusing on recovering, the patient is works to learn how to cope with and compensate with the loss of brain activity, related to the injury.
Kurt and Trace stress the need for testing and documentation of TBI injuries. Without treatment, a patient is at a high-risk of developing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s in the future. It’s the risk of future impairment that should be noted in the medical records. This can help the attorney to include the need for future medical care as part of the demand letter and during the settlement negotiations. It underscores the need for a thorough medical workup, which KPA strives to provide.
Trace explains the MedTrak testing, provided by KPA, captures the TBI diagnosis much more effectively than a standard clinical examination. It makes it much more likely that the injured patient will receive the appropriate treatment for the brain injury. Again, these “invisible injuries” are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, without the proper testing and evaluation.
Kurt comments that in a whiplash scenario, the head does not actually have to strike the dashboard, windshield or steering wheel to sustain a brain injury. A blow to the head is not necessary. If the vehicle was traveling at 17mph at time of impact, it’s likely a brain injury has been incurred.
Kurt wraps up the episode with the fact that KPA has 3 customers: the chiropractors who refer patients to them, the patient him/herself and the attorney who also either refers the client or is handling the injury claim. He comments that Trace Kelly is an expert in keeping KPAs customers satisfied.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
Automobile Accident Insurance Issues
Episode 8: In this episode, KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Louisville car wreck attorney Jim Desmond. Car wrecks are complicated. Dealing with insurance issues only makes the situation worse. An experienced attorney can help you and work with KPA to ensure you get the medical treatment you need.
Jim Desmond is licensed in Kentucky and Indiana. He focuses on car wrecks and motorcycle accidents. His firm, the Desmond Law Office is located in Louisville, KY. He’s worked with KPA for many years. He has over 20 years of experience dealing with automobile accident insurance issues. While cars protect the driver and passenger better than motorcycles, even an impact at low speeds can result in injuries to the back, neck and head.
What Does No-Fault Mean in Kentucky?
The easiest way to think about this is that Kentucky’s no-fault system is health insurance, through your automobile insurance, providing up to $10,000 of immediate coverage. It primarily covers lost wages and medical bills.
Typically, if the car is insured, it means at least some of the medical bills will get paid. The Kentucky law requires that this no-fault coverage must be used.
Jim feels this is actually a good situation. Because it’s “no-fault” coverage, you won’t have to wait to get medical treatment while the determination of who was actually at fault is being proven.
This insurance is commonly referred to as Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”), basic reparation benefits and several other names. It all means no-fault coverage.
Working with KPA
Jim has discussed past situations in which he’s been contacted by someone who was in an accident. He’s been able to work with KPA to get the person medically examined and to enable them to begin receiving treatment for the accident-related injuries.
Jim considers it part of his role, as an attorney, to handle the insurance issues. The first objective is to help the injured client to get the medical care he/she needs.
Kentucky and Indiana Have Different Systems
Indiana is a Med-Pay state. The coverage is not automatic. Very simplistically, it’s similar to Kentucky’s system in that it’s health insurance through your auto insurance, but again, it’s not automatic coverage.
Kentucky Pain Associates Can Work with PIP
Kurt explains how KPA often works with injured people and PIP coverage. The majority of the patients they treat were either injured in automobile accidents or due to a workplace injury.
The injured individual can contact KPA directly. There are a few forms, but they can usually be seen very quickly. Even if the patient doesn’t have all of the necessary information regarding the automobile accident, KPA extends a 2-week grace period to enable the person to begin treatment for the pain related to the collision.
Jim comments about two issues he likes about KPA. First, the bill for the medical treatment goes directly from KPA to the insurance company. The injured individual doesn’t have to deal with this paperwork. Second, some medical providers don’t want to handle no-fault benefits. They’d prefer not to get involved with the attorneys and insurance companies. KPA, however, handles these situations on a daily basis. They handle the communication with the injury attorney very efficiently, including preparation of the medical records.
Dealing with Serious Injuries from a Car Wreck
Serious injuries can very quickly generate medical bills, well beyond the PIP coverage. Jim Desmond explains how an ambulance, medical tests in the ER and other expenses can easily surpass $20,000. These cases are full of automobile accident insurance issues.
If this is the case, as an attorney, Jim recommends taking a step to reserve the no-fault benefits (PIP). The client can begin receiving medical treatment at KPA. The ER bill would then be submitted to health insurance, which already has a reduced rate by contract. The PIP benefits could then be used to satisfy some or all of the remaining medical bills. Later, once the accident case gets settled, additional funds may be available.
KPA Values Experienced Attorneys
Because Kentucky Pain Associates treats automobile accident injuries, they understand the value of working with experienced attorneys. Both KPA and the attorneys are focused on taking care of the injured person. The attorney handles the negotiations with the insurance companies and their lawyers if the case goes to trial. But regardless of how long that takes, the injured person is at least able to get medical treatment.
KPA can help to supervise the medical treatment, including coordination with other medical specialists including chiropractors, physical therapists and surgeons. This coordination improves the communication and care plan. As we previously mentioned, it also helps the attorney to build an effective case.
KPA and Ongoing Medical Treatment
In Episode 1, we briefly discussed the difference between treating acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain lasts 90 days or less. This is where KPA focuses its efforts. If the patient requires treatment beyond the 90 days, it’s classified as chronic pain. KPA has a relationship with Commonwealth Pain and Spine. Both companies are owned by the same physicians. However, this relationship makes it easy for an injured person to continue receiving care and enables the attorney to maintain that valuable communication and coordination.
To contact Louisville Car Wreck Attorney Jim Desmond:
Cell Phone: (502) 609-7657
Website: www.AttorneyDesmond.com
Motorcycle Accidents are Different
In Kentucky, you’re not entitled to no-fault insurance (PIP). However, Jim explains that the injured motorcyclist could still get treated at KPA. Motorcycle insurance carriers often have the option of providing no-fault coverage, but motorcyclist generally decline it due to the additional expense. This additional type of coverage isn’t cheap.
What if the other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If you were injured in a collision with an uninsured driver, you still have a claim. Unfortunately, this is a common automobile accident insurance issue. Generally, you would still have access to PIP benefits. You may also have uninsured motorist coverage (“UM”). This policy is there to protect you if you’re hit by an uninsured driver. Jim comments that you can still get treated by KPA for your injuries.
How Much Insurance Coverage Should I Have?
As an attorney with over 20 years of experience, Jim Desmond recommends you carry $100,000 per person for UM/UIM coverage. If you look at your current insurance policy’s Declarations Page, you’ll see your specific coverages. As an example, if you see $25,000/$50,000, this means your policy covers up to $25,000 for any single person and the second number is the maximum that will be paid regardless of how many people are injured.
You can also buy additional PIP coverage. This provides additional resources to protect you, if you’ve been in an automobile accident.
We’d like to thank attorney Jim Desmond for sharing his knowledge and experience with us.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
Questions You Should Ask Your Auto Insurance Agent
Episode 7: KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Beth Combs from Gallagher Insurance. Today’s topic involves questions you should ask your auto insurance agent. Many people who come to KPA are involved in car wrecks. Unfortunately, once the collision occurs, there’s no way to go back to change your automobile insurance coverage. This episode will provide some proactive information you can use, before you or a family member is involved in a motor vehicle accident (“MVA”).
Gallagher is an insurance brokerage company, founded in 1927. Beth’s previous agency merged with Gallagher two years ago. She’s been involved in insurance for the past 40 years. During the last 30 years, she’s worked as an independent agent. Beth focuses property and casualty policies covering homes, automobiles, umbrellas, water crafts, motorcycles and other items.
Insurance Broker vs. Captive Agent
Gallagher represents multiple lines of insurance. She has about 8 different carriers she can quote to get you a competitive price on your insurance coverage and premiums. They tend to shop those prices when it’s time to renew a policy, to ensure they add value for their clients.
A captive agent (“direct writer”) doesn’t have those multiple carriers. They typically represent one company, such as State Farm, Allstate, etc.
Kentucky No-Fault Coverage (“PIP”)
In Kentucky, insured drivers and their passengers in Kentucky are covered by personal injury protection (“PIP”). This provides a minimum of $10,000 in coverage for medical bills and lost wages, loss of service and funeral expenses. This is $10,000 for the driver and each passenger, individually. It’s called no-fault because it automatically provides the coverage, regardless of which driver is at fault.
KPA Can Provide Quick Medical Treatment for an Auto Accident
Kurt explains that serious injuries may result in the person being taken directly to the ER. However, if that’s not the case, KPA can perform those initial exams and provide treatment for the injuries and pain.
Unfortunately, an ER visit can result in multiple exams and tests, that can easily absorb that $10,000 in PIP benefits. Louisville attorney David Bryce Barber specifically discussed this issue in Episode 5. Roughly 90% of the patients KPA sees have not gone to the ER.
KPA does not require pre-approvals to treat the injured driver and/or passengers. They focus on taking care of the patient first.
Uninsured Motorist and Under Insured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)
Beth discusses the different between UM and UIM coverage. These cover bodily injury, not property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is there when the at-fault driver who crashed into you is driving without insurance. If you have UM coverage, it can cover your injuries up to the policy limits.
UIM coverage is there to cover the difference between the at-fault driver’s policy limit and any remaining medical bills you incurred. Kentucky’s state minimum coverage is $25,000. If the at-fault driver only has $25,000 in coverage and your medical bills are $75,000, your UIM can cover the remaining $50,000.
Beth explains that your own policy’s PIP coverage, UM coverage and UIM coverage can be increased. It’s often fairly inexpensive to significantly increase the amount of insurance available to cover you. It’s one of the questions you should ask your auto insurance agent.
Can KPA Treat an Uninsured Driver?
If a driver doesn’t have auto insurance, there’s no PIP coverage. However, Kurt recommends that person hire a personal injury attorney to help him/her pursue the at-fault driver. KPA can work on a lien, which allows KPA to provide treatment. The lien enables KPA to receive payment, once the accident claim has been settled. Again, KPA is focused on getting the injured person medical treatment.
What’s an Umbrella Policy?
Beth discusses what they are and how these policies are used. An umbrella policy is a liability policy with a minimum of $1,000,000 in coverage. It protects your auto and home in the event that you are the at-fault driver. Beth explains it sits “on top of your primary policies.” It can also be written for UM/UIM policies. This might be one of the questions you should ask your auto insurance agent.
Motorcycle Insurance
Motorcycles are typically excluded from your automobile policy. So, if you have a motorcycle, you should have a separate, motorcycle insurance policy. Gallagher currently has 2 carriers who cover motorcycles.
PIP coverage is often rejected by motorcyclists, due to the expense. If you’ve done this, you will not receive PIP benefits.
Motorcycle Accidents and Brain Trauma
KPA has the capability to diagnose brain injuries. They often go undiagnosed in ERs and other types of immediate care facilities. Brain injuries occur in motorcycle accident and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a permanent injury. A TBI can result in speeds as slow as 17 miles per hour.
Kurt explains how your major-medical health coverage may limit the amount of treatment you can receive. This is a key issue with brain trauma, which could require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. Having the proper coverages in place for your automobile (such as increase policy limits or increased UM/UIM coverage) can provide a significant safety net. Obviously, having a good personal injury attorney can also potentially secure a settlement for your damages.
If I Loan My Car to a Friend, Am I Liable?
Beth explains that the insurance follows the vehicle. Even if you’ve loaned your car to someone, it’s your insurance on the line, if they cause a wreck. Now, if you borrow a car and cause an accident, it’s the car’s owner who is primarily liable and your insurance is secondarily liable.
It doesn’t matter if the person is a friend or family member. The insurance follows the vehicle. This is a good reason not to let your teenager lend his/her car to a friend.
How often should I Shop My Insurance Coverage?
Beth reviews and compares rates for her clients during each renewal period. Not all agents do this. She can evaluate if any increases are within reason. Carriers may also offer longevity credits to entice customers to stay with them. It may make sense to shop the coverages every 3 years, or so. You really want a relationship with an agent who understands you and your needs. An insurance broker has the flexibility to both form that relationship and to help manage the premium costs.
If a direct writer (“captive agent”) agrees to look for discounts, there’s a good chance he/she may be changing or eliminating coverages to get to a better price. That reduced coverage could easily become something you really needed, if you have a claim.
When Should My Child Have a Separate Automobile Insurance Policy?
Beth recommends that you should think about your taxes. If you still claim him/her as a dependent, you may want to keep him/her on your coverage. This includes if he/she is away at college.
If your son or daughter is living in a separate location, paying his/her own rent and driving the car, he/she should have a separate policy. Again, this is an important question you should ask your insurance agent.
To contact Beth Combs at Gallagher:
Phone: (502) 415-7053
Website: www.AJG.com
We’d like to thank Beth Combs from Gallagher for sharing her knowledge and experience with us.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
KPA Works With Your Attorney to Handle Your Recovery
Episode 6: KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Louisville injury attorney John DeCamillis of the Law Offices of DeCamillis & Mattingly, PLLC. In today’s episode, we discuss the many ways Kentucky Pain Associates can help your injury attorney with your personal injury or workers’ compensation case.
An Attorney’s View
John has practiced in the area of injury law for over 30 years. He found his niche in car wreck cases and other types of personal injury cases. There’s often a hesitancy to seek medical treatment because people are often confused about who’s going to be responsible for paying the medical bills. John takes time to advise them on why the medical care is important and how they can get treatment they need to begin healing. Kentucky Pain Associates is a great place for an automobile accident victim to get medical treatment.
As an attorney, John appreciates the fact that KPA is extremely responsive and can often get the injury person seen quickly, sometimes in the same day. It makes it much easier for him/her to get qualified medical treatment for the injuries related to the car wreck. John comments KPA is like an urgent care center, but so much more. KPA can help to diagnose, treat and implement a treatment plan for that individual.
That First Visit with KPA
Kurt comments that it’s like having a 3-person team: the injured patient, the attorney and KPA’s staff. Everyone is focused on helping the person recover. KPA is also focused on helping the attorney to build an effective legal case with the medical documentation.
The KPA staff will provide detailed medical records, including the ICD10 codes, which are extremely helpful to the injury attorney handling the personal injury claim. The patient is assessed and the injuries are carefully documented. Then, a care plan is developed. KPA often works with the physical therapist and other specialists to effectively coordinate the full range of medical treatment. It’s a vital way KPA works with your attorney, because they save time and avoid unnecessary delays.
KPA’s medical director, Dr. Jason Lewis, can serve as the supervising physician for the medical case. He’ll function as the quarterback for the treatment plan. John comments on how important it is to be able to work with Dr. Lewis. The medical care has to be necessary and reasonable. John is extremely confident in Dr. Lewis and his ability to manage the medical case. KPA makes it convenient for the injured victim. The communication is extremely effective and it allows the attorney to stay up to date on the person’s status.
The Importance of the Medical Records for a Legal Case
John describes how and why the information in the medical records are so valuable to the client’s case. If a person goes to the ER right after an automobile accident, they’ll often have multiple tests run (which eventually generate medical bills). KPA is able to get right to the specific symptoms. The focus is on the patient at KPA, rather than the insurance at the ER.
The medical records detail the extent of the injuries and puts them in a format that makes it easy for an attorney to communicate with the insurance adjuster. KPA has taken a number of steps to ensure the accuracy and appearance of the documents are professional and effective. KPA’s system is updated regularly so the attorney can easily get access to the information when he/she needs it, 24/7. This is another way KPA works with your attorney.
John comments on how getting the medical records is so much faster with KPA than some of the hospitals. The hospitals can take weeks and months to send the medical records. This delays the attorney’s ability to issue the demand letter to the insurance adjuster. It’s a point of frustration for the injured person, as well as the attorney.
Interested in Contacting Attorney John DeCamillis?
Office Phone: (502) 589-2822
Website: www.DeCamillisMattingly.com
John also takes time to comment on the value of how long KPA has been around. They know what they’re doing. He knows both where he wants his clients to treat and especially where he doesn’t want them to treat. KPA is a proven resource and medical provider.
KPA has a good system for effectively managing the medical treatment. If there are changes, or if the patient needs to see a specialist, KPA proactively communicates with the attorney. This prevents a situation in which the provider is simply trying to run up the bill, before focusing on other issues. At KPA, it’s about the patient and getting them the best care possible for their situation.
Brain Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
John describes how common brain injuries are in car wreck cases. They can happen even if the person didn’t actually receive a blow to the head. Unfortunately, brain injuries often go undiagnosed. However, there are specific signs, if the doctor knows to look for them. Sometimes, these signs show up later, after the patient has been discharged.
Kurt explains how brain injuries lead to permanent injuries. They often lead to permanent disabilities. Some people seem to experience a number of automobile accidents. It may be due to an undiagnosed brain injury, which affects the person’s response time and cognitive skills.
In a previous episode, Kurt discussed the connection between a brain injury and the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia. KPA has the capability to help diagnose a traumatic brain injury. It can occur at speeds as low as 17 miles per hour. This is another way in which KPA works with your attorney to help your case.
Having a team of medical providers and attorneys working together for the benefit of injured clients is recipe for success. As a listener, we hope you’ll take advantage of it if you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident (“MVA”).
We’d like to thank attorney John DeCamillis for sharing his knowledge and experience with us.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
Top 10 Actions to Take After a Car Wreck
Episode 5: KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Louisville personal injury attorney David Bryce Barber. Many of the patients treated by Kentucky Pain Associates sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). As an attorney, David has handled many of these cases. Today, we’ll provide some helpful information for you and your family, after a car wreck.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
Step #1: If you’ve been in an accident, stay off of Facebook and other social media.
The other side’s insurance adjusters and attorneys could use this information to argue against your claim for damages. They could use a photo to dispute the severity of the injury. They could use what you said in the post out of context. They can even use the fact that you deleted specific information as a reason to doubt your integrity. It’s just not a good idea in general.
Step #2: Don’t Accept a Quick Settlement Check.
The insurance company if focused on limiting financial exposure. If they can get you to accept a check, and sign the required release form, you won’t be able to go back for additional money if you have other medical problems. Remember, if they call you, it may be recorded. It’s better to simply not speak with them. Let your attorney talk to the other side’s insurance adjuster. This can be extremely confusing when both drivers have the same insurance company.
Kurt and David discuss how the pain can often be delayed or the anti-inflammatory medicine from the ER or Urgent Car can mask the pain you’ll feel later. This is sometimes days after a car wreck. If you took a quick settlement check, the true extent of your injuries may not have presented itself yet.
David explains why getting the medical records from the health care provider more quickly can be an advantage. KPA uses a software system that makes it very easy and efficient for an attorney to get the information he/she needs to proceed with the injury claim.
Step #3: Don’t Miss Work if You Can’t Afford to Miss Work.
David explains that Kentucky’s no-fault system (PIP) enables legal drivers and passenger to have $10,000 in automatic coverage for medical treatment and a limited amount of lost wages, regardless of which driver is at fault. If you can’t afford to miss work, speak with your doctor. He/she may be able to give you light-duty or some other type of orders. This can help you to keep your paycheck coming.
Kurt has previously mentioned the fact that an injury needs time to properly heal. If someone delays getting medical treatment or rushes to get back to work, the injury can either linger or be made worse.
Step #4: Don’t Miss Your Doctor’s Appointments or Rehab.
Remember, the other side’s adjusters and attorneys will try to minimize the extent of your injuries after a car wreck. If they can prove you’ve skipped appointments or didn’t go to physical rehab, they will try to claim that you must have been feeling better. It helps to illustrate the point they’re trying to make.
If physical therapy seems to cause you more pain and discomfort, speak with your doctor and see if a different form of therapy can be prescribed. David explains this is better than simply skipping the physical rehabilitation. The notes and orders in the medical record are important evidence for your injury claim.
Step #5: Don’t Just Go to the Doctor Your Attorney Suggests.
Your attorney wants you to seek medical care, if you’ve been injured. Your own doctor is a good place to start. David explains that he doesn’t typically make referrals. He’s familiar with a few good physicians or specialists, but it’s important you feel comfortable with the doctor. If you go to a provider such as Kentucky Pain Associates, the KPA medical staff can easily help with referrals to other specialists. They often act as a quarterback (supervising physician) for a patient’s overall medical treatment after a car wreck.
To Contact Louisville Injury Attorney David Bryce Barber:
Phone: (502) 819-3375
Website: www.DavidBarberLaw.com
Things You Should Do
Step #6: Tell Your Doctor Where It Hurts or Has Hurt in the Past.
Don’t assume all of your pain and symptoms are in your medical record. Sometimes, the doctor who’s seeing doesn’t have all of the previous information. You need to be specific about your symptoms. It’s common for people to focus on what hurts the most and forget to mention the other areas of the body that also sustained an injury. If later in the process, you suddenly bring up another area not previously mentioned, people could assume the pain in the new area isn’t directly related to the car wreck. It is. You simply didn’t make it as well known.
When it comes to previous injuries, you need to let your doctor know. The body changes over time. Even if you have a problem from a previous injury, it’s quite possible that the motor vehicle accident worsened the situation. The law actually addresses this issue.
David uses the example of someone with degenerative disk disease. It’s naturally occurring. However, an auto accident can severely increase the pain and related medical issues. It’s possible that the collision is the culprit, not your pre-existing condition. In Episode 3, KPA Medical Director Doctor Jason Lewis discussed issues and treatment for back pain.
Step #7: Take Care of You at least as much as Your Car
David has had several interesting situations, over the years. When someone has a unique car that was involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA), he/she will obviously be greatly concerned about it. At times, the individual can seem to care more about the car than himself or herself. It sounds funny, but it happens.
There are injuries such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). which we’ve discussed on previous episodes. Interestingly, someone could have a brain injury and not know it. However, if you speak with him/her, you might notice changes. These could include losing the train of thought, trouble finding words, etc. The point is they may need medical treatment and not realize it.
Kurt discusses KPA’s new traumatic brain injury diagnostic capabilities. An MRI cannot detect damage to the neuropathways inside the brain. This series of diagnostic tests does that and more.
Step #8 Be Active in Getting Better
David discusses the importance of your activity as it relates to healing after a car wreck. People may do better psychologically if they feel they’re doing something about the issues they face. While there may be some restrictions, there are other activities available to give you a sense of control over the situation. You may be able to heal more quickly if you can continue those activities at home. Physical therapists and chiropractors can often give you a few ideas.
The staff at KPA can provide you with the right type of therapy for your specific injuries.
Step #9 Document Things before They Go Away
Don’t assume someone else is handling various activities for you. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the other car. Take pictures of the accident scene. How the cars are situated can help to recreate the story of what happened.
Forensic evidence such as skid marks can disappear over time. The stripes on the road may be altered, or the road widened. If you’re trying to collect evidence long after the collision, it may be gone forever.
Many stores, business, gas stations and even ATM machines have video surveillance. Those tapes could provide strong evidence to support your explanation of what happened. Unfortunately, the video camera recorders periodically tape over the footage.
Step #10 Contact an Attorney to Help You
Having an attorney doesn’t change your injuries or the facts, but personal injury attorneys handle these cases every day. Insurance policies are complex, on purpose. An attorney will understand the policy and process.
Get a copy of your insurance policy. There policy is a contract. Your attorney can help you. David doesn’t charge to answer the questions that usually come up, when an automobile collision has occurred.
We’d like to thank attorney David Bryce Barber for sharing his knowledge and experience with us.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
KPA Assists Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Episode 4: On today’s episode, KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Kentucky workers’ compensation attorney Ched Jennings of the Jennings Law Offices, in Louisville. They discuss how KPA works with injured workers and their attorneys on workers’ comp claims.
Medical Records
KPA has a medical team providing treatment to patients and they document the treatment and related issues to create important medical records for the patient and his/her attorney. The success of workers’ compensation claim is based on the availability and thoroughness of the medical records.
The Jennings Law Offices is one of the largest Kentucky workers’ compensation firms, in terms of the number of cases it handles. Ched discusses how he values the way KPA produces these medical records. Various parties may need to review the records during the claims process and the determination of benefits. He comments on how KPA spends the time to fully document the extent of the injury and the course of treatments performed.
Ched explains the information in the medical records is important for both acute traumatic injuries and cumulative, repetitive trauma injuries. It’s vital that the injured worker fully describe how the injury occurred. The details matter.
The common goal for the injured worker, the doctors and the employer is to get the individual working again. Medical treatment plays an important role in the achievement of this goal, whenever possible. The extent and detail of the medical records in capturing the relevant information is important.
In Episode 3, KPA’s Medical Director, Dr. Jason Lewis, noted the credibility of having an MD involved in the treatment and documentation. Ched agrees with that observation. The adjusters and the judge are going to have a more authoritative resource (“evidence”) if they have commentary from an actual doctor, in addition to a physical therapist and/or chiropractor.
KPA works seamlessly with the attorney. They coordinate the medical treatment, referrals to other healthcare providers and communication with the attorney on injured worker’s status. KPA can provide medical devices and braces. They have a dispensary for medication, including pain patches and other medications (both opioid and non-opioid options).
Dealing with Various Work-related Injuries
Ched believes he’s seen just about every type of injury over his 45 years of practice. He discusses the distinction between a single even injury and one resulting from cumulative trauma (“repetitive use”). When it comes to treating the various injuries, it’s important for the doctor to understand the extent of the injury, the limitations and how to best help the worker to recover.
The work environment has become safer over the years. However, people still sustain injuries. Repetitive injuries can often be wrongly interpreted as part of the aging process. That’s not always the case.
Head trauma and brain trauma is also a risk in the workplace. Kurt briefly discusses the traumatic brain injury diagnostic capability KPA now offers. We covered this extensively in Episode 2. KPA, in conjunction with MedTrak Diagnostics, can provide objective proof of a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), a medical explanation of the injury, a rehab plan to help the injured worker and a cost of medical treatment.
Ched explains that many doctors may fail to diagnose brain trauma, accurately. He recommends that the client continue to discuss the symptoms he/she is experiencing. In some cases, it may be the family members or spouse who can better describe it. Sometimes the injured person is less aware of how the symptoms show up on a day-to-day basis.
Opioid and Non-Opioid Treatment
Kurt recommends an injured worker consider physical therapy, chiropractic and other types of therapies before moving forward with opioid mediations. KPA takes a very conservative approach and can provide other types of treatments and non-opioid options for patients. These non-opioid alternatives can be effective in managing the pain.
KPA offers interventional pain management options to treat pain. These can include steroid injections to reduce inflammation. Many of their clients are able to move forward using these options, without the need to consider opioid medications.
KPA works very closely with the attorneys handling the legal aspects of the injury, but KPA also works with the other medical providers such as chiropractors, physical therapist and various surgeons.
We conclude today’s episode with Ched’s general observations about the Kentucky workers’ compensation system and employers.
If you’d like to contact Ched Jennings for a workers’ compensation claim:
Website: https://www.jenningslawoffices.com/
Phone: (502) 583-3882
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
Medical Aspects of Pain Management
Episode 3: Today, Dr. Jason Lewis, Medical Director at Kentucky Pain Associates joins us to discuss various pain management issues, including opioid treatment, risks and the safeguards KPA has put in place to protect its patients.
Dr. Lewis grew up in Kentucky. He went to college in Colorado and returned to attend the medical school at the University of Louisville. He focused on anesthesiology and pain management. He later completed a fellowship, in Vermont, in pain management. He’s board-certified in anesthesia and also board-certified in pain management.
As we discussed in Episode 1, with Kurt Reibling, Kentucky law requires a pain management practice to now be owned by a physician and have a board-certified pain management physician on staff.
Medically Speaking, What Is Pain Management?
There are numerous, medical aspects of Pain Management. In broad terms, pain management is a branch of medicine helping people to live with pain and to improve their quality of life. KPA treats patients typically injured in car accidents, motorcycle accidents and workplace injuries.
Pain is classified in two categories. Acute pain lasts from 1-90 days. It’s usually caused by some type of trauma, including post-operative pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting beyond 90 days.
Interventional Pain Management
This is a method of pain management involving injection therapies. Commonly people think about epidurals or cortisone injections. Actually, there’s much more to this area. Other options include radio frequency ablation, neuromodulation, pain pumps, etc.
Physiatry
This is the practice of physical medicine and rehab. This is a different specialty and practitioners are part of pain management, but the approach is different from anesthesiology.
Doctor Lewis goes on to describe various factors related to pain and the various classifications/categories.
Getting Evaluated for Pain Management at KPA
During your first visit to KPA, the staff will perform an extensive evaluation to document and assign the proper classification of your pain, its location(s), the timeline involved and many other issues. This helps the medial staff to determine the proper treatment options to discuss with the individual. It’s a very customized approach, based on the needs of that specific person.
In Episode 2, we had a very comprehensive discussion of KPA’s new diagnostic capability for detecting brain injuries. Dr. Lewis explains how traumatic brain injury has often been undiagnosed or underdiagnosed. It’s actually fairly common for anyone who’s experienced an automobile accident.
The Pain Management Treatment Continuum
KPA takes a conservative approach to pain management. Dr. Lewis explains how going directly into surgery may be overly aggressive. In many cases, surgery should be treated as the last resort. There are other treatments that may successfully treat the condition.
Physical Therapy or Chiropractic Care can be useful, especially in the case of an automobile collision. Other options could include massage therapy and acupuncture. There are every-day activities such as getting good sleep, good nutrition, avoiding alcohol and tobacco. Stress management is also helpful.
Medications for Pain
These are made up of opioid medications and non-opioid mediations, such as anti-inflammatories. You might have the option of muscle relaxants or neuropathic medication and other. You and your physician should monitor these closely to ensure your safety.
Interventional Options
The next step in the treatment continuum include the interventional pain management options. As we previously discussed, this includes injections, nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulations, radio frequency ablations.
The final step in the continuum is surgery.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
This is an advanced type of procedure. KPA performs a lot of these. You may be familiar with a pacemaker. The spinal cord stimulator is very similar. It consists of a battery pack and wires. The wires are inserted into the patient’s back. The stimulator cancels out or disrupts the pain signals from your back or legs. It changes the patient’s perception of pain.
This procedure can work for people who have already had back surgery. Those experiencing residual pain or neuropathy, CPRS, phantom-limb syndrome, spinal cord injuries, etc.
A spinal cord stimulator can last between 5 and 10 years. It depends upon the frequency of use and the battery life. If it runs out of battery power, it can be easily replaced during outpatient surgery.
DRG Stimulation
This refers to dorsal root ganglion stimulation affects a nerve bundle that functions as the gateway from the nerves in your legs to your central nervous system. It’s a specific kind of spinal cord stimulation.
Regenerative Medicine for Pain Management
The research and development of regenerative medicine for pain management is growing. Dr. Lewis explains that it harnesses the body’s natural ability to heal. Cells are extracted from the body and then injected directly into the area experiencing pain. It can reduce inflammation and help to regenerate damaged tissue.
Common situations for regenerative medicine include sports injuries, orthopedic procedures and with motor vehicle accidents.
Opioid Treatment for Pain Management
No discussion of the medical aspects of pain management would be complete without addressing this issue. While opioids have become a hot topic, especially due to the risks and illegal use, opioid treatment for pain management can be extremely effective. Opiates have been around for centuries. In the 1930s methadone was invented. Bayer laboratories later invented heroin. Most recently, federal and state governments began aggressively regulating the prescription and use of opioids.
As a result, there are now many rules regarding monitoring and compliance. These safeguards are an integral part of opioid-related treatment. KPA focuses on these safeguards to ensure there’s a medical necessity for opioid treatment. As the Medical Director, Doctor Lewis does a lot of training with the KPA medical staff and the patient.
Kentucky Pain Associates takes a very conservative approach to treating its patients. This also applies to the dosing of the opioid medications. Again, Dr. Lewis is board-certified in pain management and fully understands how these medications function, when/how they should be prescribed and how to safely manage the risks associated with this family of drugs. KPA maintains a high-level of communication and monitoring of patients using opioid medication for the treatment of pain. In the proper environment, these medications can have a very positive impact on an injured individual’s quality of life.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
KPA for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Episode 2: Today, Kurt Reibling, COO of Kentucky Pain Associates and Scott Auerbach (CEO of MedTrak Diagnostics) discuss an exciting new process for diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). This is a game-changing collaboration and KPA is the exclusive, regional provider of this diagnostic testing. Whether you’re an injury attorney or family member of a recently injured person, you’ll want to listen to this episode.
MedTrak has been developing diagnostic testing for over 30 years. They selected Kentucky Pain Associates as its Kentucky, objective brain injury testing center. This is a natural complement to the services KPA already provides to its patients. Many of who, may be victims of brain trauma, which in some cases, went undiagnosed until now.
Working with Someone Who’s Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are “ invisible injuries” and can be devastating. These often result from motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and also workplace injuries. A TBI can also result from a fall or hit to the head. Later, we’ll discuss how this can happen without an actual impact to a person’s head.
In many situations, there is a triangle involved helping an injury victim. There’s the person, KPA and often an attorney handling the legal side on behalf of the client. This diagnostic capability can provide very strong objective evidence in support of an injury case or workers’ compensation claim.
MedTrak Diagnostics is located in Henderson, NV. Technology has enabled them to work with local providers, such as Kentucky Pain Associates, to administer the exams and diagnostic testing and the evaluation is sent to MedTrak. Once the evaluation is complete, an extensive medical report is created and provided to the patient and/or attorney handling the case.
The medical report serves 2 purposes. First, it helps the personal injury attorney to prove his/her case on behalf of the client. Second, the report helps the rehabilitation specialist to understand the dysfunctions in the patient’s brain and to focus on the specific problems resulting from the dysfunctions.
Proven Technology to Determine the Extent of Your Brain Injury
The technology has been in existence for 20 years or more. NASA made use of posturography (an integral part of the examination today). Videonystagmography (VNG) was actually created during the 1974s to 1984. Its predecessor is ENG electrode testing. The diagnostics have been proven and normalized over time. There are thousands of peer-reviewed research articles supporting the technology and diagnostics. Today, they offer valuable, objective insights into the injury itself. This technology is vital in detecting and diagnosing traumatic brain injuries.
MedTrak Diagnostics currently provides services to the US military when a service member is thought to have suffered a concussion. MedTrak currently has diagnostic equipment and testing centers in all 50 states.
Signs Your Family Member May Have a Traumatic Brain Injury
Often, it’s a family member who recognizes the symptoms of a TBI in their loved one. A patient may realize something’s wrong or different, but doesn’t actually equate it to a brain injury.
Some Common TBI Signs Include:
- Mood Swings
- Confusion
- Trouble Choosing the Right Words
- Memory Loss
- Changes in Sleep Patterns
- Slurred Speech
It’s important to understand someone can suffer a brain injury even without a blow to the head. The brain floats inside of the skull. A fall or other violent impact can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull, resulting in a brain injury.
Kentucky Pain Associates Utilizes 3 Tests to Help Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injuries:
- Videonystagmography (VNG)
- Posturography
- Neuro-Cognitive Test
How Is the Diagnostic Testing Different from Traditional Testing?
The Texas Medical Center and Baylor Medical School have developed research over 20 years. Scott helped them to develop a web portal to provide a computerized neuro-cognitive test. This is much different that an evaluation by a neuropsychologist who will observe the patient and provide a subjective opinion and report. The testing by KPA, in collaboration with MedTrak, provides objective findings based on the 20+ years research and a computer algorithm. There’s no subjectivity to it. An objective medical opinion can be much more accurate in diagnosing the extent of the brain injury.
The Risk of Second Impact Syndrome
If there’s been a brain injury, there could be bleeding in the brain or a fracture of the skull. Although many of them are classified as a mild brain injury. The cells of the nerves have been damaged. Another impact can cause the cells to die. If enough of the cells die, on a second impact, the injured person dies. This is what’s referred to as second impact syndrome.
An MRI can show structural damage to the brain. However, because many of these injuries result in a mild brain injury, these are metabolic injuries; not structural. These may not show up on an MRI. This is a reason for the inclusion of the testing now provided by KPA and MedTrak Diagnostics.
The Link Between Brain Trauma, Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Even 1 concussion makes you much more likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Brain trauma can also increase your risk of falling. This presents a significant change or limitation to the activities in which you could engage, prior to the sustaining the brain injury.
The University of Pennsylvania and the Perelman Medical School was part of a 25-year study. The results were recently published. Brain injury victims are between 125%-200% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease after having only 1 concussion.
The importance of properly diagnosing and treating a brain injury cannot be more important for the person who has sustained it. Now, Kentucky Pain Associates can assist in that process.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!
An Introduction to Kentucky Pain Associates
Episode 1: This is the launch of our podcast, so we’ll meet Kurt Reibling, founder and COO of Kentucky Pain Associates (KPA). He’ll provide some background about KPA, its services and what makes them different from other pain management practices. This episode sets the stage for additional episodes already being recorded.
The statistics for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) in Kentucky are fairly high, especially in Jefferson County. The number of reported injuries are also surprisingly high. The injury number is most-likely higher because some victims don’t report pain at the crash site, but over the following days, acute pain set in, often resulting in a trip to the hospital or other healthcare provider.
At the time, the most predominate method of treating car wreck injuries was going to a chiropractor. You can find them throughout Louisville and the surrounding counties. Chiropractors can provide good treatment for those involved in automobile accidents. Whiplash is a very common injury. This “soft-tissue” injury typically involves a stretching of the muscles, tendons and ligaments due to the forces resulting from the collision.
The limitation of chiropractic care is that chiropractors are not licensed to prescribe medication, nor provide procedures such as injections. Kurt saw this as an opportunity to help patients by providing treatments not offered by the chiropractors.
Kentucky Pain Associates Can Work with Your Chiropractor
Kurt founded Premier Medical Services in 2009, to provide mobile, diagnostic ultrasound. This is a good method for helping chiropractors to prove the soft tissue injury. A technician could provide the ultrasound. A medical doctor would add an additional layer of credibility to these treatments. That doctor could also serve as the supervising physician.
In 2010, a new office opened with a doctor and staff to do the examinations and make determinations regarding the injuries. The team at KPA is not providing the therapy available at a chiropractor or physical therapist. Kentucky Pain Associates is here to manage the injured person’s acute pain. Acute pain is a condition lasting 90 days or less. If it goes beyond 90 days, it becomes classified as chronic pain.
Therapists such has chiropractors and physical therapists can help to heal the injury. It’s important that the treatment is followed through to completion to avoid a chronic pain issue, down the road.
Kentucky Pain Associates works closely with the other providers to ensure a seamless treatment path for the patient. People who seek treatment from KPA are generally with them for 2-3 months.
Kentucky Pain Associates Can Work with Your Attorney
The majority of patients treating with Kentucky Pain Associates are also involved in the legal process as they seek recovery of damages related to their automobile accident (or workers’ compensation claim, as we discuss later). KPA will keep the attorney updated and send a full medical report to assist in building the claim and or lawsuit.
KPA Board Certified Physicians
In 2012, the Kentucky legislature defined what a pain management facility is and does. This was, in part, to help get control of the surging opioid epidemic. At the time, Kentucky was the 2nd worst state for opioid abuse and overdoses. The new legislation required that a pain management facility must be physician-owned and that a board-certified pain management physician be on staff.
Kentucky Pain Associates has 2 physicians, Dr. Jason Lewis and Dr. Kyle Young. Both are anesthesiologists and board certified in pain management. Dr. Lewis provided a pain management presentation to a statewide group of attorneys in 2021. Part of that discussion focused on the safeguards KPA has in place to very conservatively prescribe and monitor treatment involving opioid medication. We plan to having Dr. Lewis record a podcast episode on that same topic. He serves as the Medical Director for KPA.
Non-Opioid Alternatives at KPA
For some patients, trigger point injections are the preferred treatment modality. These injections into the muscle can relax the tense knots within the muscle. Those knots can cause intense pain. The trigger point injections can be very effective. For many patients, this procedure can relieve the pain within a day or two.
Bulging or Herniated Disks
The providers at KPA can refer the patient for an MRI. The KPA medical staff can then diagnose what is the cause of the pain and exactly where that bulging or herniated disk is located along the spinal column. The medical equipment at KPA will help to guide a needle to inject a steroid solution to reduce the inflammation and swelling around the disk and impacted nerves. This procedure can work for a couple of years or permanently, depending upon who the patient’s body reacts to the treatment.
Generally speaking, you want to avoid going from an initial evaluation directly to a surgical procedure for acute pain. Kentucky Pain Associates offers a variety of highly-effective treatment options designed to address and treat the pain, before surgery becomes the only alternative. The vast majority of people who get treatment at KPA are able to avoid surgery for their pain.
Treatment for Workplace Injuries
Kentucky Pain Associates can provide treatment for someone who was hurt at work. Many of these injuries involve damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments. They often include back and neck injuries.
In a Kentucky workers’ compensation claim, the medical records are extremely important. Again, the board-certified physicians at KPA can add additional credibility and medical reports to support the work your workers’ comp attorney is doing on your behalf. Pain management is often a part of the overall treatment for someone who has been hurt on the job.
Kentucky Pain Associates Provides Diagnostic Evaluations for Brain Injuries
KPA is able to provide innovative diagnostic equipment and evaluations for people who may have suffered a brain injury, related to a car wreck or workplace injury. Kentucky Pain Associates has an exclusive collaboration with MedTrak Diagnostics. This arrangement is the only objective, traumatic brain injury evaluation center in Kentucky. We’ll explore this new capability in Episode 2 of our podcast.
The resulting damage of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is permanent. The diagnostic evaluation can help to identify the specific neuropathways that have sustained damage. By properly identifying the full extent of the brain injury, the patient can receive the optimal course of treatment. This information can also be provided in the medical records to, again, bolster the strength of an injury case or workers’ compensation claim.
Did You Enjoy this Episode?
We hope you found this information helpful. We encourage you to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast to keep up to date with future episodes.
Want to Set Up an Appointment with Kentucky Pain Associates?
We offer 3 locations to serve you:
LOUISVILLE: 222 South 1st Street, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202
ELIZABETHTOWN: 1107 Crowne Point Dr., Suite 100, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
LEXINGTON: 101 Prosperous Place, Suite 300, Lexington, KY 40509
Feel Free to Contact Us via the website or by calling (502) 855-3919. We also provide a telemedicine option (video call) for people outside of those areas.
Remember, work injury or MVA? Think KPA!