An Employers Return To Work Letter to Treating Doctor for NY Companies

When a worker is losing time due to a workplace injury, the employer should immediately establish contact with the treating doctor to ensure coordination of efforts to return the worker to a workplace setting as soon as is feasible.

The following letter can serve as a model for such communication:

SAMPLE TEMPLATE

To Dr. _________,

Your patient, (name), is currently under treatment for a work related injury. We have programs to restore such persons to a work setting.

If you feel your patient can participate in trial work, if necessary with modifications, could you please inform the patient and we will interview them for such return. We shall need your approval and we will send you a copy of our proposal for your review, unless you believe the patient can immediately return to the former job on a trial basis.

If you would like to discuss specific medical issues about our worker’s condition with our medical director, I can have him telephone you to discuss trial return to work restrictions.

Signed (name)

cc: Employee

The employer’s letter serves many purposes. It establishes communication, it shows concern, it lets the employee know that the employer will be involved, it humanizes the process, it reduces depression and anger at being abandoned, it reassures the spouse, and it reduces the impact of any parties trying to keep the worker at home.

Attorney Theodore Ronca is a practicing lawyer from Aquebogue, NY. He is a frequent writer and speaker, and has represented employers in the areas of workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, employee disability plans and subrogation for over 30 years. Attorney Ronca can be reached at 631-722-2100.

WC Cost Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php REAL COST of work comp.
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php for the basics about workers comp.

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.