After the first visit to the clinic:
Early on after an injured workers visits the clinics, especially during the first 2 weeks, more frequent contact results in better recovery and more rapid return to work. Have your in-house medical providers, medical advisors, and nurses play an active role. If the insurance company or TPA has a medical advisor, that advisor can make these contact. Lowering Workers Comp Costs
As a fall-back position, have the claims adjuster contact the treating provider. Of course, the employee should be required to bring medical restrictions (on your form) back to the facility when he or she returns to the facility to begin the modified duty position. And, the treating provider should fax the medical restrictions to the workers’ comp coordinator after the visit so when the medical advisor contacts the treating physician they have that form in hand for the discussion.
If the company medical advisor can speak to the doctor on the day of follow-up visits, that can be very helpful. You are forming an alliance with the treating doctor, figuring out how how to best help the employee, whether it is ordering an MRI, getting medical restrictions and returning someone to work, referring the injured employee to a specialist, etc. If the company medical advisor has information that might be relevant to the treating doctor such as the employee is very motivated, has a long track record of excellent company service, etc. that is also helpful to the treating doctor.
When there is difficulty getting an employee back work, consider a functional capacity evaluation (FCE): 1) An FCE can help determine what a person is capable of doing, and developing temporary alternate duty within those capabilities, and 2) can suggest symptom magnification.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs. ©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@WorkersCompKit.com
