Leaving Las Vegas

Quick takeaways from National Work Comp…

Don’t know what total attendance was, but seemed somewhat less than in pre-COVID years. Exhibit hall corridors were pretty empty despite sessions located around the exhibits.

Newest thing du jour – AI...sessions on AI, vendors promoting various applications, attendees mentioning AI in conversations about claims, data interpretation, claim intake, you name it.

Nurse triage – just…stop. Far too many are touting nurse triage – almost all without a clue as to what exactly this is, why they want to do it, what a “nurse” is, and how this will improve things. More on this in a future post, but for now:

• define nurse – do you need an RN? APRN? LPN? nursing assistant?
• what expertise/training/experience does this “nurse” need? orthopedics? emergency medicine? trauma? behavioral health?
• okay, so a new RN is on the phone with a person…exactly what value does this add? Be specific.
• more to come.

Events – by all reports myMatrixx’ get together was really well attended...I didn’t get to any others as they were past my east-coast bedtime. I do miss the myMatrixx transportation services from years past :( (mM is a consulting client)

There was a beach party outside my window that prevented a lot of us form getting to sleep before 11. Mandalay Bay staff was far less than helpful, told me this was on me as I should have checked the event calendar before booking my room (WTF!) and offered to send housekeeping up with a couple earplugs…I will NEVER stay there again.

Optum’s dog party was a big hit – great idea, really smart marketing, and good buzz generator.

Provocative session addressed anxiety, suicide and depression – more on that later. Sobering and much needed. Really respect the speakers for sharing their views and personal experiences. Yvonne Guibert – you are an inspiration.  

Booth staff – STOP pitching your stuff. JUST STOP. Until you have a decent sense for what the person in front of you needs, wants, is challenged by, don’t say anything other than a one-sentence line about the service/product your company delivers. 

have an excellent weekend.