Employers TAKE CHARGE by Developing Relationships with Local Medical Providers

Developing relationships with your local providers is essential in successful medical management of your work comp claims. Whether you’re in a jurisdiction allowing the employer to control the choice of treating physician or not, it can be very helpful to know the local provider and vice versa. Even in jurisdictions allowing the employee to choose the treating doctor, panels can usually be posted and employees may elect to choose from your panel allowing both PPO rates and quality treatment.

So, TAKE CONTROL — visit local clinics, ask other employers what clinics they know of that treat injured employees, and treat them well. Get references and make on-site visits to find the best medical provider for your corporate culture. THEN, consider YOU using that provider also! Lead by example…

Select physicians who are willing to visit your facility and get to know your staff and the various jobs and tasks your employees perform. An occupational medicine provider will typically be willing to call a designated contact after an employee’s visit to provide at least a work status and next visit date followed by fax or electronic confirmation.

The physician should be well acquainted with the jobs and tasks performed so an early return to work can be facilitated. An employer who establishes these protocols has the ability to offer modified work possibly as quickly as the date of the visit, eliminating or limiting lost-time from work. Maintaining a bank of current quantified job descriptions at the occupational clinic helps the physician identify jobs and tasks for the injured worker.

When the physician visits, let her get a feel for what your workers actually do on the job to the extent possible. If you’re a bus company, let her drive the bus. If you’re a manufacturer, give a thorough tour. The idea is for the physician to have a solid understanding of the physical requirements of the jobs and tasks involved to promote early return to work and avoid re-injury.

It’s also good to have a relationship with a local physical therapist for the same reasons. The better the therapist understands the physical requirements, the better he can prepare the employee to return to work safely.

Be sure to cover the topic of prescriptions with the physician, too. If over the counter drugs can be used effectively, explain to the physician how using OTCs help you from an OSHA reportable injury standpoint and cost standpoint if prescription medications can be avoided. (workersxzcompxzkit)

Take the initiative to get to know your local occupational provider and therapists to promote early return to work for your injured employees and reduce your claim costs.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers' Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.

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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers' comp issues.