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PALM SPRINGS - July 31, 2013 - Desert Regional Medical Center and JFK Memorial Hospital announced today that Randall L. Culbertson, DO, MBA has been named Chief Business Development Officer for the       Coachella Valley.

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STATER BROS. CHARITIES TO PRESENT CHECK TO AMERICAN HEART & STROKE ASSOCIATION

Stater Bros. Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports critical needs in the communities where Stater Bros. employees live and work.  Since 2008, Stater Bros. Charities has provided funding to countless local organizations and causes that benefit hunger relief, children-in-need, education for both youth and adults, services for the elderly and care for our Nation's Veterans.  Funds are raised throughout the year from generous customers, supplier friends, and caring members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family.  For more information log onto www.staterbros.com.

About Stater Bros. Markets

Stater Bros. was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2012 of $3.9 billion.  The Company currently operates 166 Supermarkets, and there are over 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family.  Throughout the year 2013, Stater Bros. will be celebrating 77 years of proudly serving Southern California Families.

About the American Heart & Stroke Association

Founded in 1924, the American Heart & Stroke Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke.  To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases - two of America's leading killers - the American Heart & Stroke Association funds cutting-edge research, conducts lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocates to protect public health.  To learn more or join the American Heart Association in helping all Americans live longer, healthier lives call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org. 

 and JFK Memorial Hospital

PALM SPRINGS - July 31, 2013 - Desert Regional Medical Center and JFK Memorial Hospital announced today that Randall L. Culbertson, DO, MBA has been named Chief Business Development Officer for the        Coachella Valley.

"Dr. Culbertson has a wealth of experience in the healthcare industry, building new service lines, strengthening relationships with physicians and increasing patient satisfaction," said Carolyn Caldwell, President & Chief Executive Officer for Desert Regional Medical Center. "Dr. Culbertson is a strong leader who will help us develop our health care system and prepare for the future."

Dr. Culbertson most recently was Vice President of Business Development for HCA Midwest, based in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. Before joining HCA, Dr. Culbertson ran his own health care consulting company and was a Physician Executive with Cerner Corporation to provide consulting services to hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical groups and their physicians on implementation, adoption, governance, decision-support, and training for new information technology systems.  Prior to his time with Cerner, Dr. Culbertson served as the Chief Medical Officer for a two hospital system in Kansas City providing leadership for 1100 physicians for over seven years.  Dr. Culbertson is board certified in family medicine and practiced for sixteen years before moving to administrative roles.  While in practice, he served in multiple roles for the medical staff and hospitals he worked at including president of the medical staff.   

Dr. Culbertson holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Southwest Missouri State University, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Baker University.  He will be moving to the valley with his wife, Shelley, who is a registered nurse. 

"We are pleased to have a physician leader of Dr. Culbertson's stature join our management team as the two hospitals work more closely on the development of a health system for the entire Coachella Valley," said Gary Honts, President & Chief Executive Officer for JFK Memorial Hospital. "Health care has evolved into a very complex system. His breath of experience will be an asset as we grow this important sector of the economy."

"I am excited to start in my new role," Dr. Culbertson said. "We enjoy sophisticated medical care in the Coachella Valley. I look forward to participating in the continuing advancements in medicine and in working with our physicians as health reform takes full effect next year.  Many times physician and patient choices come down to building close relationships and trust between the hospital and those they serve, which include both patients and physicians.  I will strive to build on the great reputation of our facilities in the valley and contribute in every way I can to build those trusting relationships."

Desert Regional Medical Center is a 387-bed hospital in Palm Springs that operates the

Coachella Valley's only designated trauma center and its only neonatal intensive care unit. It is accredited by the Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and is the only local hospital to have achieved certification for Hip and Knee Replacement and for Spine Surgery. It also is home to the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute of Clinical Orthopedics and Neurosciences and outpatient imaging centers with locations in both Palm Springs and La Quinta. More at www.desertregional.com.

JFK Memorial Hospital is a 158-bed hospital based in Indio that also operates the JFK Bone & Joint Institute, with offices in La Quinta. Joint replacement at JFK Memorial Hospital is in the top 10% in the nation according to Healthgrades, a leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital. More at www.jfkmemorialhosp.com.

Both hospitals are operated by Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a leading health care services company. More at www.tenethealth.com.

(760) 323-6690

Workers' Comp: Analyze Costs/Benefits of Offering Modified Duties

Question:

            I have an employee who is out because of a workers' compensation injury. If he brings in a note from his doctor with work restrictions, do I have to offer light duty or modify the work schedule? If I offer modified work, can an employee refuse the work because he does not like the job?

Answer:

            An employer is NOT required to modify a work schedule or provide light duty to an employee on workers' compensation; neither is the employee obligated to accept modified work.

            There may, however, be cost benefits and consequences to an employer for not offering modified work and for an employee in not accepting that work.

            Controlling Future Premiums

            Employers offer modified work while an employee is on workers' compensation to keep the company's workers' compensation experience rating low, which helps to keep down future premium increases.

            By paying the employee directly, the carrier will not be paying out temporary disability payments and adding to the experience on the claim. Modified work may be offered as long as the employee is not totally disabled and the work offered is currently within the employee's work restrictions.

            An employer is not required to modify the existing job, create a similar job or even provide a job that the employee likes. If modified work is offered and the employee refuses to do the work, the employee runs the risk of being denied temporary disability payments by the workers' compensation insurance carrier.

            If an employer offers modified work for the employee with a workers' compensation injury, the employer is required to pay the employee at least 85% of the employee's regular pay. This pay requirement also operates as an incentive to the employee to accept modified work in that temporary workers' compensation disability benefits are about 60% of the regular pay rate.

            Opportunity to Get Tasks Done

            Many employees would rather be doing something instead of sitting at home doing nothing. The modified work also provides an opportunity for the employer to get other productive tasks done, including work in the office, painting, cleaning, inventory, restocking, etc.

            As long as the job meets the medical provider's work restrictions, the choice of where the employee works and what he/she does is up to the employer.

            Reasons an employer may choose not to offer modified work are:

            * Work cannot be modified to meet the employee's restrictions;

            * Fear that the employee may reinjure himself/herself if working; and

            * Feeling that the employee would be in the way or have a bad attitude if made to do          something other than his/her regular job.

            See How It Goes

            Rather than assume the worst, an employer may want to try modified work and see how it goes.

            Having the employee working during worker's compensation may be better for the employee in terms of pay and for the employer in terms of keeping future workers' compensation premiums lower. Before making a decision about the modified work, an employer should review this issue on a cost/benefit basis to determine what is best for the company.