Jeff Hazim, DC DAAMLP

Admissibility Standards of the Medical Expert in Trauma, Documentation requirements of the courts in a medical-legal case including causality, bodily injury and persistent functional losses, ethically reporting of functional loss as it pertains to the integrity of the joint and activities of daily living and implications of chronicity, reporting of normal findings, maximum medical improvement and the release of the patient in the medical-legal arena

Medical-Legal Research and the Documentation of Causal Relationship, Prognosis and Treatment of the Traumatically Injured, Review of current research published in peer reviewed medically indexed journals focusing on traumatic injuries and how current literature affects the diagnostic conclusion and how to formulate treatment plans

Biomechanics of Spinal Trauma and its Relationship to Pre-Existing Injuries and Degenerative Changes. Whiplash Associated Disorders and the biomechanics of side impact vs. rear impact with emphasis on traumatic forces and body position, the mechanism of whiplash injury phases with their relationships to physiologic tolerance to trauma, specific diagnosis of disc pathology and annular tear, disc herniation, fracture, ligamentous injury and instability. Details of spinal nerve root stretching injury and dimensions of the spinal canal during whiplash was outlined particular to significant spinal injury resulting from low level accelerations including pediatric spinal trauma and physiological normals. Spinal surgical intervention techniques including ordering diagnostic studies using MRI, CT and digital motion x-ray

MRI Spine Interpretation of Disc Bulge and Herniation, Spinal MRI findings related to degenerative changes vs. traumatic changes of the intervertebral disc by using definitions provided by the American Society of Neuroradiology. Anatomy of the intervertebral disc, spinal cord, nerve roots and spinal ligaments correlated to T1, T2, STIR sagittal, stacking and axial images. Anatomical MRI differentiation of normal, degenerative and traumatic changes

Whiplash: Advanced Topics, The Fundamental Science, The real reasons whiplash and brain injuries are on the rise. The minimal property damage = minimal injury risk myth exposed. In-depth analysis of brain, neck, and cervical spine trauma mechanisms. A comprehensive and cutting edge analysis of soft tissue injuries. All clinical syndromes and conditions resulting from whiplash (WAD/CAD). What forensic experts need to know about the various pain syndromes.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, Use a non-invasive, non-surgical intervention for sufferers of acute and chronic lower back pain and disc injuries.

Techniques and protocols for performing manipulation under anesthesia in surgical out-patient facilities.

Medico-legal Issues; Fundamental for Practitioners and Forensic Experts, The medico-legal aspects of a modern personal injury practice. The final stage of an expert’s development. Essentials of documentation and records keeping. When and how to use medical photography and incorporate it. Depositions, arbitrations, and testifying in court. Using evidence effectively

Radiographic Specialty Training in Spine and Skeletal Disorders, Study of primary bone characteristics and sites of bone pathology, benign and malignant bone tumors, arthritis, osteochondrosis, motion segment degeneration, fractures and body alterations, disc lesions, spine, pelvis, and Extremity manifestations, paravertebral soft tissue manifestations, and heart and chest

Advanced Diagnostics, Treatment, and Auto Crash Reconstruction (ACR), Management Principles in Personal Injury and Forensic Documentation, Auto crash reconstruction in low speed crashes. Historical documentation in personal injury and forensic medicine applications. Comprehensive physical examination of whiplash and traumatic brain injury. Special laboratory methods, the latest radiographic examination methods and analysis techniques, CT examination of brain and soft tissue injuries, and MRI examination of brain and soft tissue injuries. Special diagnostic imaging modalities (SPECT, PET, fMRI, MRA, VF, etc.) and electrodiagnostics (EMG, sEMG, SSEP, VEP, etc.). Designing a treatment plan and living with guidelines

Narrative Report: Report Writing & Practice Development, Principles of Impairment Rating and Forensic Documentation, Modern medico-legal communication. Critical documentation from day 1. The fundamental of expository, scientific writing. Style, strategy, methods, organization, and common pitfalls. Incorporating outcomes assessment and disability instruments into your reports. The application of AMA guidelines in personal injury and forensic practice. Modern guidelines and best practices

MRI History and Physics, Magnetic fields, T1 and T2 relaxations, nuclear spins, phase encoding, spin echo, T1 and T2 contrast, magnetic properties of metals and the historical perspective of the creation of NMR and MRI

MRI Spinal Anatomy and Protocols, Normal anatomy of axial and sagittal views utilizing T1, T2, 3D gradient and STIR sequences of imaging. Standardized and desired protocols in views and sequencing of MRI examination to create an accurate diagnosis in MRI

MRI Disc Pathology and Spinal Stenosis, MRI interpretation of bulged, herniated, protruded, extruded, sequestered and fragmented disc pathologies in etiology and neurological sequelae in relationship to the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots

MRI Spinal Pathology, MRI interpretation of bone, intradural, extradural, cord and neural sleeve lesions. Tuberculosis, drop lesions, metastasis, ependymoma, schwanoma and numerous other spinal related tumors and lesions

MRI Methodology of Analysis, MRI interpretation sequencing of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine inclusive of T1, T2, STIR and 3D gradient studies to ensure the accurate diagnosis of the region visualized

MRI Clinical Application, The clinical application of the results of space occupying lesions. Disc and tumor pathologies and the clinical indications of manual and adjustive therapies in the patient with spinal nerve root and spinal cord insult as sequelae

Neurodiagnostics, Imaging Protocols and Pathology of the Trauma Patient, An in-depth understanding of the protocols in triaging and reporting the clinical findings of the trauma patient. Maintaining ethical relationships with the medical-legal community

Diagnostics, Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation and Triaging the Trauma Patient, An extensive understanding of the injured with clinically coordinating the history, physical findings and when to integrate neurodiagnostics. An understanding on how to utilize emergency room records in creating an accurate diagnosis and the significance of “risk factors” in spinal injury

Crash Dynamics and Its Relationship to Causality, An extensive understanding of the physics involved in the transference of energy from the bullet car to the target car. This includes G's of force, newtons, gravity, energy, skid marks, crumple zones, spring factors, event data recorder and the graphing of the movement of the vehicle before, during and after the crash. Determining the clinical correlation of forces and bodily injury

MRI, Bone Scan and X-Ray Protocols, Physiology and Indications for the Trauma Patient, MRI interpretation, physiology, history and clinical indications, bone scan interpretation, physiology and clinical indications, x-ray clinical indications for the trauma patient

Neurodiagnostic Testing Protocols, Physiology and Indications for the Trauma Patient, Electromyography (EMG), Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), Somato Sensory Evoked Potential (SSEP), Visual Evoked Potential (VEP), Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAER) and Visual-Electronystagmosgraphy (V-ENG) interpretation, protocols and clinical indications for the trauma patient

Documentation and Reporting for the Trauma Victim, Understanding the necessity for accurate documentation and diagnosis utilizing the ICD-9 and the CPT to accurately describe the injury through diagnosis. Understanding and utilizing state regulations on reimbursement issues pertaining to healthcare

Head Trauma, Brain Injury and Concussion, Brain and head physiology, brain mapping and pathology as a sequella to trauma. Traumatic brain injury, mild traumatic brain injury, axonal shearing, diffuse axonal injury and concussion are detailed in etiology and clinically. Clinical presentation, advanced diagnostic imaging and electrodiagnostics are detailed in analysis to create a differential diagnosis. Balance disorders that often occur as a result of trauma are also explored from clinical presentation to advanced imaging and differential diagnosis

Impairment Rating Certification, The understanding and utilization of the protocols and parameters of the AMA Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 6th Edition. Spine, neurological sequelae, migraine, sexual dysfunction, sleep and arousal disorders, station and gait disorders and consciousness are detailed for impairment rating. Herniated discs, radiculopathy, fracture, dislocation and functional loss are also detailed in relation to impairment ratings

Utilization of Research in the Clinical Setting, Utilizing peer reviewed scientific literature in creating a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan for the chronic and acute patient. How to implement and stay current on techniques and technology in healthcare

Triaging the Trauma and Non-Trauma Patients, Correlating clinical findings and the patient history in determining the correct course of care in triaging the patient utilizing orthopedic and neurological evaluations in the clinical setting. Understanding the parameters for immediate referrals vs. following the continuum of care to determine the necessity for referrals

Patient Intake, History and Physical Examination, Determining the etiology of the patient's complaints in a traumatic or non-traumatic scenario. Analyzing the patient's past history and review of systems along with the performance of a complete　orthopedic, neurological and clinical examination to correlate both past, current and causality issues to formulate an accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. There is an emphasis on triaging both the trauma and non-trauma patient

Accident Reconstruction: Terms, Concepts and Definitions, The forces in physics that prevail in accidents to cause bodily injury. Quantifying the force coefficients of vehicle mass and force vectors that can be translated to the occupant and subsequently cause serious injury

Accident Reconstruction: Causality, Bodily Injury, Negative Acceleration Forces, Crumple Zones and Critical Documentation, Factors that cause negative acceleration to zero and the subsequent forces created for the vehicle that get translated to the occupant. Understanding critical documentation of hospitals, ambulance reports, doctors and the legal profession in reconstructing an accident

Accident Reconstruction: Skid Marks, Time, Distance, Velocity, Speed Formulas and Road Surfaces, The mathematical calculations necessary utilizing time, distance, speed, coefficients of friction and acceleration in reconstructing an accident. The application of the critical documentation acquired from an accident site

Accident Reconstruction: Skid Marks, Time, Distance, Velocity, Speed Formulas and Road Surfaces, The mathematical calculations necessary utilizing time, distance, speed, coefficients of friction and acceleration in reconstructing an accident. The application of the critical documentation acquired from an accident site

Electrodiagnostics Interpretation, EMG/NCV, Somato-sensory evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked potential and visual evoked potential utilization, physiology and interpretation, electrodiagnostic testing as a clinical component in part of the neurological work-up of the traumatically injured patient in both the peripheral and central nervous system. Inductions and contraindications to electrodiagnostic procedures . The utilization of electrodiagnostics in concluding radiculopathy, myelopathy and plexopathy and determining recent trauma or chronic pathology

Documentation and Triage in Trauma, ICD-9 and CPT requirements in coding for the traumatically injured including integrating electronic health records including informed consent, evaluation and management, testing orders. The utilization of research in medical reports for both the trauma and non-trauma patients. Clinical coordination of care and reporting to healthcare and legal providers