Hiring the Best Doctor for your Workers’ Comp Injuries
If you moved to a new city, how would you find a doctor to treat yourself and your family?
You would likely consider the following questions and take these or similar steps:
Check with your health care provider for a list of doctors in your network.
The doctor specializes in family medicine (or pediatrician, obstetrician, etc.)
The office is near where you live.
Ask your new neighbors for referrals.
Research the doctors’ bios and on-line reviews.
Schedule a time to meet the doctor, assess the office and staff.
Continue your ongoing assessments of results of the doctor’s expertise, timeliness, friendly and courteous staff, cleanliness, etc.
These same factors apply to the medical clinic that you designate for your Workers’ Compensation claims and who you select can impact the cost and duration of your claims.
Although you may not directly pay the medical bills, the carrier or Third Party Administrator (TPA) pays on your behalf. The medical treatment and the cost have a direct impact on your employees, your X-Mod and, ultimately, your insurance premiums.
Here is an Employer’s Checklist for Medical Clinic Selection for Workers’ Comp. If you are selecting a new designated clinic or reassessing your current clinic, this checklist will assist you in your selection.
If you are not happy with your current clinic, have you let them know why and discussed with them areas of improvement? Your concerns may be long wait time for employee’s appointments, lack of bilingual services, many months of no change in work status, employee complaints, repeat appointments when the employee says that they are healed, or lack of response from the doctor to discuss work abilities or work restrictions.
Positive feedback to your designated clinic also strengthens the relationship.
You can also discuss your clinic’s satisfaction with your carrier or TPA. Are payments prompt, is there quick approval for treatment authorization or the doctor’s request for specialty referral?
Your designated clinic for Workers’ Compensation claims can be a valuable partnership that works with you and your injured employees for the best results for recovery to work and productivity.
Don’t leave it to chance! Take an active role in selecting and managing the results of the occupational medical clinic that you select to care for your injured employees.
Please call your ESM Claims Advocate if you have any questions.