Abstract: On December 2, 1997, Employee #1 began working as a patient representative in the business office of a major hospital. Her duties included telephoning, data entry, accounting, and typing. Apparently, she had a problem with her neck, back, and shoulders related to a lifting injury she had suffered in August, 1995. At that time, she was diagnosed with acute cervical strain/cervical degenerative disease and had back fusion surgery. By June, 1999, the surgery needed to be redone. The current investigation was triggered by her readmission for a second back surgery, not by any specific workplace event.