How to Encourage Physicians to Complete the Work Ability Form
As discussed, the work ability form (WAF) is the best method to get your injured employee back to work and Workers’ Comp Kit recommends sending the form directly to your employee – and we still recommend doing that. There are other similar forms, by other names, but whatever form you use, it just has to be complete. There’s critical information an employer needs, and that information needs to be collected at the FIRST medical visit. However, in workers’ compensation world, redundancy isn’t a bad idea, in fact, it’s a very good idea.
Studies show the sooner an employee returns to work, the smoother your workers’ compensation procedures run. This is true for both the employee and the employer.
Transitional duties, designed to take into account an injured employee’s limited or changed abilities is a way to get the worker back on the job and performing some, not all, former functions.
It is better to have the worker at your worksite even at lowered production or capabilities than at home recuperating to 100 percent, a feat which may never happen.
Workers’ Comp Kit suggests sending your injured employee’s physician a formal letter explaining the company’s transitional duty policy and introducing the work ability form (WAF) with tips on filling it out. To introduce yourself and your company you can also bring these things to a meeting at the clinic.
- Send it priority mail via the United State Postal Service with delivery confirmation. If you have an established relationship you can fax the form BEFORE the employee’s medical visit, or make sure the clinic has a supply of your forms on hand.
- Explain who you are and provide company information, stating John Physician, M.D., is treating John Smith, your injured employee.
- Explain to the physician your company will assign a transitional duty to Mr. Smith based on his post-accident limitations.
- Enclose the Work Ability Form and ask the health care provider to please fill it out. Make sure YOU complete the employer’s portion of the form which includes your contact information and fax number.
- Let them know there will be a WAF requested for each office visit and information provided is used by your health department to modify the employee’s transitional duty on a weekly basis.
- Be sure to include claim number and all relevant addresses and contact information in the cover letter.
- Welcome the physician to ask questions. (workersxzcompxzkit)
Presenting the request for the WAF in a professional and matter-of-fact way, avoids resistance by the employee and healthcare professional (to filling out forms) because it becomes apparent appropriate documentation of the compensation case throughout the healing process is the only way to avert future problems (and repeated requests for information – which is annoying).
The WAF form may be purchased at Advisen. Contact: mbastone@advisen.com
Author: Robert Elliott, J.D. is a consultant helping employers control and manage workers’ compensation costs. He can be reached at Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-786-8286.
WC Calculator: www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator:www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101: www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
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