Workers' Compensation Court

 Medical Advisory Board

Established in 1992, the Medical Advisory Board plays an integral role in the workers’ compensation system. The Medical Advisory Board meets every four (4) to six (6) weeks and is comprised of, by statute, an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, physiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, internist, psychiatrist, and four (4) ad hoc members. Currently these ad hoc members include two (2) additional orthopedic surgeons, an occupational medicine physician, and an otolaryngologist.

The Medical Advisory Board has the responsibility to establish protocols and standards of treatment for work-related injuries. The protocols are not designed as "cookbooks" of care, rather the protocols outline options of appropriate methods and types of interventions from which physicians and other providers are to choose. Although primarily geared toward the entry level physician, i.e., the first treating physician, these protocols offer important information for all physicians, health care providers, and insurers.

The Medical Advisory Board approved and promulgated rules, regulations, and procedures concerning the appointment and qualification of comprehensive independent health care review teams and impartial medical examiners. A list of impartial medical examiners and independent health care review team members has been created. This list is maintained by the Medical Advisory Board and is reviewed every two years.

The Medical Advisory Board approves preferred provider networks. In Rhode Island, an injured worker has the freedom to obtain treatment from any qualified health care professional, initially. However, if the injured worker seeks to change health care providers, and the insurer has filed a preferred provider network, the injured worker must choose a physician from the employer’s network. The Medical Advisory Board reviews each preferred provider network to determine if the network provides sufficient choice to the injured worker.

 Medical Advisory Board Calendar

 

 

Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court Medical Advisory Board MeetingRhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court Medical Advisory Board Meeting Workers’ Compensation Courtroom 4M One Dorrance Plaza Providence, Rhode Island 02903​ <div class="ExternalClass70C145DA38FA4D7A963C79EC6B7719E8"><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span><div style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;font-family:open_sansregular;font-size:14px;"></div><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span><div>Workers’ Compensation Courtroom 4M</div><div>One Dorrance Plaza</div><div>Providence, Rhode Island 02903​<br></div><span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><br></div>2025-01-14T23:00:00.0000000Z 2025-01-14T23:00:00Z2025-01-15T01:00:00.0000000Z 2025-01-15T01:00:00Zsts4s://www.courts.ri.gov/attachmentUrl=https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/workerscompensationcourt/Lists/Medical Advisory Board Meetings/Attachments/10/MeetingNotice.pdf

 Members

John R. Parziale, MD, Physiatry (Chair)

Michel Arcand, MD, Orthopedic Surgery 

Gregory Austin, MD, Orthopedic Surgery 

Christopher S. Black, DC, Chiropractic Medicine 

Leticia Burman, PsyD, Psychology 

James K. Cardi, MD, Cardiology 

Milva Catallozzi, MS PT 

Gary L’Europa, MD, Neurology 

John M. Tarro, MD, Otolaryngology 

Randall L. Updegrove, MD, Occupational Medicine 

Vincent J. Yakavonis, MD, Orthopedic Surger​y​

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