Skip to main content

3 Facts About Workers Comp' Doctor

 In 2017, 2.8 million work-related injuries and illnesses occurred in US workplaces. The following year, roughly the same number of workers became injured and sick.

If you’re one of these employees, know that you have the right to fair compensation. After all, it’s very likely that you’re one of the 140 million US workers with workers’ compensation.

To get your deserved coverage though, you need to get in touch with a workers’ comp doctor. You’ll be working with this medical professional throughout your workers’ comp claim.

The question is, what exactly is the role of these doctors? What will they do for you. Can you choose any doctor you prefer?

We’ll answer all these questions in this post, so be sure to read on!

1. A Workers’ Comp Doctor Specializes in Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

A workers’ comp doctor treats people who suffered a work-related injury or illness. Many others also provide an independent medical examination for workers’ compensation claims.

Their main goal is to establish that your condition is work-related and if you can still go to work. They will provide your treatment, prescribe your medications, and monitor your recovery.

A workers compensation doctor can be an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, or spine specialist. There are also physical therapists. Chiropractors who work as workers’ compensation doctors.

Now, you may be wondering why you shouldn’t just see your primary physician. If your injury or illness has anything to do with your employment, you need to see a workers’ comp doctor. Otherwise, you may end up not being able to receive your workers’ comp benefits.

2. Your Employer May Require You to See a Specific Doctor

The state where you work (and live) may allow you to have the first choice in a workers’ comp doctor. This doesn’t apply to all states though, where the employer has the choice and final say.

In these states, the employer chooses exactly who the initial treating doctor is. They may also require you to see a specific doctor for ongoing treatment and recovery.

Seeing any other doctor not chosen by the employer can lead to a workers’ comp claim becoming invalid. So before looking for workers’ comp doctors, make sure you check with your employer first.

3. These Medical Professionals Are Key to a Successful Workers’ Comp Claim

At the end of the day, you need to work with your workers’ comp doctors to secure your benefits. It is their word, after all, that will influence the outcome of your workers’ comp claim. That’s why it’s vital to see a workers’ comp doctor who will focus on healing you.

What if you think that your workers’ comp doctor lied or you simply aren’t satisfied? In this case, it may be possible to seek a second opinion or switch doctors.

Almost all states allow workers to change treating doctors at least once. Contact your state’s workers’ comp board to confirm if this applies to your case. There you have it: the key facts you need to know when choosing. Working with a workers’ comp doctor. Now that you know who they are and what they do, be sure to check your rights. If your state allows you to choose your doctor, then, by all means, exercise your right.

Looking for more tips to get your health back in tip-top shape? Then don’t forget to head over to this site’s Health section for more guides like this!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Medicinal Smoking: Worth the Effort?

Statistics indicate that you have over 100,000 Americans who're suffering with TS (Tourette's syndrome). This complex neuropsychiatric disorder that is certainly characterized by involuntary vocal tics is of unknown etiology. While the severity of this issue varies widely among patients, studies have shown that this condition usually improves as they age. Currently, there is no cure for Tourette's syndrome. However, research indicates that medical cannabis might help people cope with the symptoms. After the initial noise died down along with the celebrations subsided, the complicated facts begun to resolve. It is still illegal to smoke in public places and federal properties for example military bases and national parks. It will likely be a really complicated and messy task for each county to discover the acceptable amount of licenses and permits to stores, growers, and processors which will meet consumer demand. Counties will likely need to figure out how they'll...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tennis in London: A Match Made in Sporting Paradise

London is not just a cultural and linguistic melting pot, but also a major centre for sports fans, particularly tennis fans. London has established itself as the worldwide epicentre of tennis with to its cutting-edge facilities, enthusiastic fan base, and history of hosting some of the sport's most prestigious events. This article takes a look at London's robust tennis scene, from its famous tournaments to its enthusiastic fan base. Wimbledon is where tennis history is made. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships, the oldest and most renowned tennis event in the world, must be included in any discussion about tennis in London. Wimbledon is a celebration of history, skill, and good sportsmanship that takes place every year at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Wimbledon is unlike any other tennis tournament because of the refined atmosphere it radiates, from the immaculate grass courts to the presence of the royal family in the Royal Box. The ambiance of the event is unmi...
Post a Comment
Read more

4 Signs Your Business Uses The Wrong Workers Comp Doctors

The single biggest predictor of how successful a workers compensation claim will be is the primary physician that initially treats the employee. Most on-the-job injuries don’t require a significant time away from work. This is standard unless you operate a business or organization in a highly risky field (i.e. - demolition, law enforcement, oil rigging, etc.). If you find that your employees consistently miss work based on the treating doctor’s recommendation, it’s likely you are dealing with what we affectionately call in the industry a “Doctor Summer-off”. An affectionate nickname given to workmans comp doctors who routinely take the employee’s feedback to extremes or can be easily swayed by an employee who wants to get additional vacation days without being charged for them. Doctors can be very sympathetic to their patients and that is important for client-patient trust and diagnosing certain issues before they become much worse. However, in cases where basic first aid a...
1 comment
Read more