Professionals who get hurt on the job may need to file a workers’ compensation claim. An injury sustained on the clock might leave an employee in need of immediate medical care, and they could require time away from work until they heal. Workers diagnosed with job-acquired medical conditions may also be eligible for benefits.
The medical coverage available through workers’ compensation can pay for an employee’s treatment expenses. A doctor decides what care they require, when they can return to work and what accommodations may be necessary for them to work safely. A doctor’s input is a critical component of a successful workers’ compensation claim.
Who picks the doctor who treats an injured professional?
Employers provide a panel, and workers choose the individual
Most of the time, employers with workers’ compensation insurance provide a panel of physicians. That panel includes at least six independent doctors authorized to provide care for injured workers.
The panel should include one orthopedic surgeon. The panel should not include more than two physicians employed by industrial clinics. Ideally, the panel should also include at least one physician who belongs to a minority group whenever possible.
The injured employee can select one of the physicians on the panel to oversee their claim and provide their care. The worker has the right to change from one doctor on that panel to another one time without securing pre-approval from their employer in most cases.
Effectively communicating with a physician and recognizing when a second opinion might be necessary are both important for injured workers. The guidance of a workers’ compensation attorney can help employees manage claims, including pursuing the care they need for their optimal recovery.