June 3, 2026
Today, South Bend Orthopaedics brought together physicians, therapists, case managers, employers and other workers’ compensation professionals to discuss best practices for evaluating, treating and managing workplace injuries. Throughout the annual seminar, Dr. Balint, Dr. Bemenderfer, Dr. Flynn, Dr. Fuller, Dr. Kim, Dr. Kimmell, Dr. Losiniecki, Dr. Ratigan, Dr. Sieradzki and Dr. Warmoth educated nearly 200 workers compensation leaders about how the initial evaluation of injuries sets the tone for the management of the entire claim.
While each physician focused on their specialty, several common themes emerged throughout the day. First, early diagnosis leads to better outcomes. Beginning with Dr. P.J. Warmoth who addressed the initial evaluation of a knee injury, each physician emphasized the importance of early recognition and referral when there is an injury. Dr. Henry Kim discussed how the timely evaluation of shoulder injuries can prevent chronic pain, stiffness and delayed recovery. Dr. Sam Fuller highlighted the importance of thorough early assessment of hand and wrist injuries to establish accurate diagnoses and realistic recovery expectations. Dr. Thomas Bemenderfer stressed that early recognition, appropriate treatment and clear communication prevent many acute injuries from becoming chronic problems.
Second, conservative treatment is often successful. Dr. Henry Kim emphasized that treatment typically begins with non-surgical options including physical therapy, range-of-motion exercises, anti-inflammatory measures and corticosteroid injections when appropriate. Both Dr. James Flynn and Dr. Thomas Bemenderfer mentioned a national statistic that nearly 90 percent of ankle sprains improve without surgery.
Dr. Sam Fuller explained that workers compensation cases are most effective when everyone involved works together toward the shared goal of restoring function and safely returning injured employees to productive work. Dr. Andrew Losiniecki also emphasized the valuable role nurse case managers play in helping physicians understand the broader clinical picture and facilitate communication among all stakeholders.
In a panel discussion in the afternoon, Dr. Balint, Dr. Bemenderfer, Dr. Flynn, Dr. Fuller, Dr. Kimmell, Dr. Losiniecki, Dr. Ratigan, Dr. Sieradzki, Physical Therapist George Myers and six leaders in the community addressed a series of real-world work injury cases in which laborers sustained a variety of injuries. Panelists discussed how they would diagnose and treat each complex case and the risks and benefits of the Functional Capacity Exam.
South Bend Orthopaedics physicians and workers compensation specialists are committed to helping injured workers recover safely and efficiently. Leaders in the workers compensation field are invited to attend next year’s seminar which will be the first week of June 2027.