By Bonnie Prater
WSIA Training Coordinator

November 2008

Hello Members!

Welcome to the rainy season!  Hope you can get dried out enough to attend some of our upcoming training programs.  Let’s catch up first…We just completed the Claims 1 – 4 training series last week.  Attendance was up and I am pleased to say that the classes went very well.  The instructor presentations created an interesting mix of structured presentations and real life examples and tips.  The interactive environment allowed for a lot of great discussion and learning opportunities.  My thanks to the panel of  instructors:  Craig Bock, Bock Consulting; Chris Fowler, Eberle Vivian; Kathryn Kunkler, Keehn Kunkler; and Deanna Moran, Life Care Legal and Risk Services.   We are also nearing the end of Statutory Requirements, one of IIU’s Worker’s Compensation Professional designation courses.  The final exam is on December 2nd.

In my last column, I discussed the upcoming Calculations Webinars in detail.  Registration for the first two Webinars, covering calculating the gross monthly wage and time loss, is closed as of today.  There is still time to register for the remaining two Webinars, covering loss of earning power and permanent partial disability.  These require registration at least one week in advance to allow time for pre-class homework so get your registrations in now! Go to the WSIA Website to register:  http://www.wsiassn.org/public/training_programs.html

So, what’s coming up next, you ask?  First, we have our Certification Review course for those of you preparing to take the Department’s Claims Administrator Certification Test.  This two-day course will be held on December 16th and 17th at the Phoenix Inn in Olympia and is only open to WSIA members.  We went to the two-day format in September and the pass rate for those taking our prep class was 61.5%, up 18% from the June test.  The overall pass rate for all testers was 47% so I strongly encourage anyone taking the certification exam to take the prep class. 

IIU’s WWCP Medical Information course will be starting January 6th.  This course is part of our three part WWCP designation program.  The course was approved for 12 medical continuing education credits so it can be a great way to get medical CECs for your Department Certification.

This spring, we will be launching a new training series of advanced workers’ compensation topics.  These will be presented in a Webinar format and are in the development stage so if you have a wish list of topics that you would like to see covered, please email me at bonnie.prater@wsiassn.org or 1-800-736-7296.  I welcome your input, as always.

Until December …

Bonnie Prater

WSIA Training Coordinator

bonnie.prater@wsiassn.org

Posted 13 November 2008

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