George Pantos, General Counsel, Washington Counsel for Self-Insurance Institute of America, has experienced health problems recently. However, he has improved and expects to return home and to work soon.

George's health condition was complicated and progress was slow. However, his recovery was greatly assisted by expert physician oversight provided by Barbara Freeman, MD, FAAFP, Medical Director for Strategic Health Development Corporation.

Nigel Wallbank, President-elect of SIIA and President/CEO or Strategic Health says, "It was an honor for us to provide this oversight care to George. We have the highest respect for George and what he has done for SIIA and our industry. We jumped at the chance to help him."

James A. Kinder, CEO, SIIA, said, "George's return to health was too slow, I thought. Our industry has tremendous resources to help in this situation, so I called Nigel asked his advice. Immediately, he and Strategic Health had resources working to review George's situation."

Dr. Freeman began working with George, the Pantos family and his attending physicians. Together, they reviewed George's care plan, made adjustments, and made arrangements for him to return home. As he improves, he will begin working from his home on special projects to advance SIIA's legislative agenda.

"I will be meeting with George to go over special SIIA assignments to assist us in building a strategy to deal with the new congress to make sure SIIA's interest are advanced and heard loud and clear," said Kinder. "Of course, we will be careful not to overburden George, but I am confident, he will be back to his argumentative self in a few short weeks."

"We owe a BIG thanks to Dr. Freeman and all of Nigel's team in their help in making this all possible," added Kinder.

About SIIA

The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) is the national association dedicated exclusively to protecting and promoting the self-insurance and alternative risk transfer industry.  Since its founding in 1981, the association has grown significantly and now includes members from virtually every state and several countries around the world. Major membership constituencies include self-insured employers (healthcare and workers' compensation), group self-insured workers' compensation funds (SIFs), third-party administrators (TPAs), managing general underwriters (MGUs), excess/stop-loss insurance carriers and a variety of other companies involved in the alternative risk transfer business.  Visit www.SIIA.org.

-Compliments of the  Ernie Clevenger report, MyHealthGuide Newsletter for the Self-Funded Community dated 11/13/2006 - 

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