Enlyte Celebrates Eight Winners of the 10th Annual Heart of Case Management Award

 2025 marks highest number of awardees nominated by Enlyte customers and managers

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A record eight Enlyte case managers are being celebrated for their exemplary work in helping restore the livelihoods of employees injured on the job.

In conjunction with National Case Management Week (Oct. 12-18), Enlyte has announced the winners of its 10th annual Heart of Case Management Awards, a prestigious honor recognizing individuals nominated and selected from a field of more than 2,000 case managers across the country. The national program recognizes Enlyte case managers who have made the greatest impact on injured employees they serve and go above their traditional job responsibilities to help improve the lives of thousands each year.

Traditionally, Enlyte managers nominate Heart of Case Management candidates, who are then awarded in four categories, catastrophic, field, telephonic case management, and spotlight. With the latter honoring a case manager whose performance warrants recognition outside of his or her particular field of practice.

However, to celebrate the contest's 10th anniversary, Enlyte invited customers to enter submissions as well, leading to the most winners ever selected. The customer awardees were nominated by FedEx, PMA, Sentry and Starbucks.

"When we opened up this year's Heart of Case Management Awards to customer nominations, we were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received," said Tim Howard, SVP, Field Case Management. "We're proud of all nominees who have made important contributions to the well-being of injured employees. They represent the best of the best."

Nominees are judged on a multitude of criteria including expertise, excellence, adaptability, trust, influential communication, critical thinking and outcomes. The following are synopses of the award-winning entries. To hear the winners talk about their cases in their own words, watch their inspiring videos here.

Heart of Case Management Award Winners – Colleague Division
Telephonic Case Management
Dani Bilnoski, RN, CCM
A firefighter injured his lower back during training, resulting in severe pain from degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy into his leg. Recovery was complicated by multiple spinal injections, delays in treatment approvals and reinjury anxiety. After a few months with little progression, Bilnoski took over the case. A single father, the firefighter was deeply concerned about losing his job and, subsequently, no longer being able to support his son and serve his community. Bilnoski provided timely intervention by securing authorizations, coordinating complex care, helping transition the employee into a structured home exercise program, and supporting his emotional needs throughout recovery. Bilnoski's persistence and guidance helped lead the firefighter to achieve full medical improvement, returning to active duty without restrictions. Her actions also generated over $14,000 in claim savings.

Catastrophic Case Management
Carol Torres, RN, CCM
Workers' compensation is difficult to navigate for any injured employee, but it's significantly challenging when language barriers exist. A bilingual case manager, Torres made the difference in a case involving a foreign employee who sustained a traumatic foot injury requiring a below-knee amputation. Though recovery was further complicated by discovery of undiagnosed diabetes, Torres bridged communication gaps, directing proper transitional care from hospital to home health, while coordinating rehab services. She helped guide the employee through prosthetic fitting, physical therapy, and diabetes management, leading to full ambulation with a prosthetic leg. Within just six months, the employee reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) and returned home to Mexico with regained independence.

Field Case Management
Carla Saunders, RN, BSN, CCM
As America's workforce grows older, workers' comp professionals face additional challenges as injuries are often exacerbated by comorbidities. This is why Saunders' case management intervention was vital in helping a 78-year-old maintenance employee recover from a hip fracture that contributed to blood clots, pneumonia, and medical hardware failure. Saunders worked closely with the employee and his wife, providing education and emotional support, while expediting authorizations, scheduling with top specialists and coordinating transportation. With her persistence, the employee reached MMI, returned to work with restrictions, and regained independence with minimal pain. Saunder's proactive management prevented setbacks and delivered significant medical and indemnity savings.

Spotlight Award
Tina Powers, RN, BSN, CCM
A full-time electrical assembler sustained a traumatic rotator cuff tear in his dominant shoulder, requiring surgical repair and extended recovery time. He also lived with several health and social challenges including obesity, hypertension, financial strain, and major depressive disorder, which intensified after injury. Once assigned to the case, Powers expedited MRI authorization and surgery scheduling, while also coordinating post-surgical therapy. Understanding the emotional toll of the injury, Powers worked to ensure the employee was engaged and motivated throughout rehabilitation. Her efforts resulted in the employee returning to full duty within five months, avoiding nearly 38 weeks of lost time and resulting in more than $46,000 in indemnity savings.

Heart of Case Management Award Winners - Customer Division
Andrea King, RN, CCM, nominated by FedEx 
King was nominated by FedEx for exceptional telephonic case management in supporting a courier recovering from a torn ACL. She coordinated timely surgery and rehabilitation while maintaining ongoing communication, reassuring the employee throughout recovery. Her proactive oversight helped the employee return to work ahead of guideline expectations, regain full function and resume normal activities, generating more than $9,300 in return-to-work (RTW) savings, benefiting both the employee and FedEx.

She also earned gratitude from her injured employee, according to FedEx nominator Nancy Chiesa, senior manager, workers' compensation. "This injured worker reached out almost a year after his RTW praising Andrea King's work and assistance: 'I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for me to get me to surgery and through rehab. I have been doing everything I did before the injury pain-free.' This personifies the FedEx model."

Joyce Bennett, RN, BSN, CCM, DOLCM-CTR, Nominated by PMA
PMA Companies nominated Bennett for outstanding field case management and ability to streamline complex claims with efficiency and fairness. In one case, Bennett arranged a pivotal change of physician who confirmed the employee's pain was not related to the original injury, an outcome that not only protected the integrity of the claim but also saved significant costs by preventing unrelated medical expenses. Bennett was cited for strong communication skills in helping build trust with all parties, guiding even the most difficult cases toward resolution. Her problem-solving skills and compassion helped deliver positive outcomes for both employees and clients.

Christine McCurdy, RN, BSN, Nominated by Starbucks
McCurdy is valued by Starbucks for exceptional field case management through her expertise, compassion, and persistence. According to her nominee, McCurdy quickly identifies gaps in care, coordinates providers across multiple states, and ensures all treatment plans stay aligned. McCurdy was also recognized for her ability to communicate complex medical details in understandable terms, reducing confusion and providing reassurance to injured employees and their families. Her commitment and empathy allow McCurdy to move challenging cases toward full-duty release.

Ingrid Duncombe, RN, MSN, CCM, Nominated by Sentry
Duncombe earned recognition from Sentry for helping an injured employee who had significant reservations about workers' compensation and was frustrated with slow recovery, return to work safely and with confidence, knowing his insurer was there to help. Duncombe built a trust-based relationship with the injured employee through proactive, timely communication and advocacy when appropriate. She kept the injured employee, employer, and Sentry informed throughout the process. Duncombe's compassion, empathy, and problem-solving skills, combined with clear guidance and knowledge of state-specific regulations, consistently moved the case forward to resolution, said Ashleigh-Rose Clark, the Sentry claims representative who nominated her.

"It's not just about Ingrid's employee advocacy and care, it's also about accountability and motivation, keeping injured employees engaged so they can return to work when it is safe to do so," said Clark. "Her comprehensive, balanced approach, helps enable trust and avoid costly return-to-work delays and potential litigation."

About Enlyte
Enlyte (www.enlyte.com) is a P&C industry leader providing claims technology innovations and connectivity solutions, specialty networks, case management, pharmacy benefit and disability management services. Serving over 2,000 entities, including a majority of Fortune 500 employers, Enlyte leverages its portfolio of solutions to simplify processes and improve outcomes for auto, workers' compensation and disability claims.

SOURCE Enlyte