As an injured worker’s doctor, you play an important role in the claims process and, more importantly, the worker’s recovery. Learn about your role in treating patients who are injured at work and why returning to work is key to their recovery.
When someone is injured at work, their employer and workers’ compensation insurer aim to:
Determine the cause of injury
It’s important to determine the mechanism of injury. For example, you might note “The employee was lifting a 50-pound box at work and felt pain in his lower back.” Also note any pre-existing conditions that might be related to the injury or delay healing.
Determine maximum medical improvement (MMI) and permanent disability
A patient reaches maximum medical improvement when no further significant or lasting improvement from the injury is reasonably anticipated, regardless of subjective complaints. You may be asked to determine when the injured worker has reached maximum medical improvement and whether there is any permanent disability from the work injury.
Communicate with the claims representative
Promptly fax any requests for procedures with supporting documentation to SFM at 800-944-1169.
It’s important for medical providers to understand the impact early return to work has on injured workers and their role in helping make it happen.
The longer an employee remains away from the job following a workplace injury, the less likely it becomes that the employee will ever return to work. Even if injured employees can’t return to their regular jobs right away, bringing them back as soon as possible by providing transitional or light-duty work helps them recover faster, stay in the routine of working, feel productive and maintain workplace relationships.
Identify the injured workers’ physical restrictions and list them in a clear, concise and specific manner, using functional terms. For example, “Can lift up to 20 pounds” or “can stand for a maximum of 30 minutes an hour.”
Always complete a Work ability / Return-to-work form or similar form at each visit, even if the patient doesn’t ask for it. Sometimes, injured workers don’t realize their employers have light-duty work available. Make sure the form includes a date injured workers can return to work and describes what they can do. Provide a copy to the patient and keep one in the medical record.
Explain to your patient the benefits of healing at work and staying active.
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