As information related to COVID-19 changes rapidly, Paradigm remains committed to the critical work of helping injured workers and their families in their time of greatest need. For this reason, we want to reassure our Orthopedic and Spine Care program clients that we are in constant contact with our network providers as well as the patients accessing the program. We will continue to update you on feedback we are receiving from the provider and patient communities.

Currently, the American College of Surgeons recommends rescheduling elective procedures when possible and/or shifting elective and urgent surgical procedures to outpatient settings whenever possible. The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) published further guidance on March 18, 2020 urging the safe postponement of procedures (without causing significant risk to the patient) until after the pandemic slows. The ASCA also recommends that surgeries posing any of the below risk factors may still need to proceed on schedule so as not to cause any further risk to the patient:

• Acute infection
• Acute trauma that would significantly worsen without surgery
• Potential malignancy
• Uncontrollable pain that would otherwise require a hospital admission
• A condition where prognosis would significantly worsen with a delay in treatment

Paradigm Specialty Networks continues to remain fully functional, scheduling and rescheduling injured workers for our customers on a daily basis. Examiners and case managers alike can continue to rely on Paradigm Specialty Networks to coordinate orthopedic consultations, exams, and necessary outpatient surgical procedures by either dialing (844) 443-2792 or emailing referrals-networks@paradigmcorp.com.

The vast majority of Paradigm’s in-network providers remain open, with most exams taking place as scheduled (some longer appointment timeframes are being seen with non-emergent care). Emergent and sub-emergent procedures are being handled with typical urgency. Paradigm has received notice of a few office closures as a result of infection or out of an abundance of caution. Trust that when contacting Paradigm Specialty Networks for your orthopedic needs we will have current information to help guide your injured workers, and expect that we will update the industry accordingly as our experience changes.

Should you have any questions, or need an injured worker properly placed for orthopedic or spine services, do not hesitate to rely on Paradigm Specialty Networks to help guide you and your injured workers to recovery as we navigate these challenging circumstances together.