training medical professionals on the
accident investigation process.
“This gives medical professionals
a full understanding of how accidents
occur and the mechanics involved in
an injury,” Middlebrooks said. “That
is, was the injury truly the result of
the job duty they were performing, or
outside factors. This training is useful
in determining if a claim should be
approved and encourages medical
professionals to ensure that a detailed
investigation occurs for all claims.”
The company denied several
inappropriate claims as a result of
the new procedure. It also allowed
the company to curb injuries by
allowing employees to take protective
measures.
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durable medical equipment issues on
behalf of the employers.”
In her short time at Voc Works,
Middlebrooks already has written
light duty job descriptions for a
transportation company to assist it
with placing injured workers back to
work with restrictions. This assists
companies in having documentation
to support any modified duty
program and keeping injured
employees at work.
Cathy Jackson, a worker’s
compensation adjuster at Forward
Air who currently works with
Middlebrooks, said of her: “Amy’s
personality reflects a lot on her.
She is very easy to work with. Her
knowledge is exceptional. The last
time I met with her she gave me
some terrific ideas that helped me
out a lot. She just seems to be the
type of person you want to work
with.”
Another person who is not
surprised by Middlebrooks’ success is
Anna Steinburger, a telephonic nurse
case manager at Sheakley Unicome
who worked with her at a previous
company.
Steinburger said of Middlebrooks:
“She is so good at handling risk
because she doesn’t enter anything
without a knowledge base. And she
knows how to use that knowledge to
the fullest benefit for those around
her and for her company.”
There was never much doubt that
Middlebrooks would end up in the
care-giving world.
After receiving an associate’s of
applied science in nursing degree
from Lima Technical College/
Ohio State Branch in Lima, Ohio,
Middlebrooks went to work at a
factory that made seats for Honda
cars. She eventually discovered that
the company had an occupational
health position open. “They started
to include me in the safety aspect
and I liked it. So I started safety
training programs and began to
look at equipment from a safety
perspective.”
Following that position,
Middlebrooks joined VP Buildings
Inc. in Van Wert, Ohio. There she
wrote the company’s safety program
from the ground up, coordinating
and managing all health and safety
practices within the company’s
manufacturing facility, including
supervising all employees on their
safety performance. Under her
leadership, the facility went 450 days
with a lost-time accident.
Middlebrooks was recruited away
from VP Buildings Inc. by Corvel
Corp. in Dublin, where she served
in many capacities, from field and
telephonic case manager to nurse
reviewer. Among other things at
Corvel, she completed comprehensive
personal and auto liability medical
reviews with employers, third-
party administrators, attorneys and
insurance companies.
From there the fast-stepping
Middlebrooks moved on to Big Lots.
STEVE YAHN has been a reporter and
editor for national publications. He can be
reached at riskletters@lrp.com.
