Should I See a Workers’ Comp Doctor if I’ve Seen My Primary Physician?
- Posted on: Mar 15 2021
If you were involved in an injury at work that didn’t require an ambulance or even a trip to the ER, you may have booked an appointment with your primary care physician for an evaluation. It’s always a good idea to see a doctor after being hurt while on the job, even if you don’t seem to be that badly injured. However, while it’s fine to see your doctor, you also need to seek out a medical professional who specializes in workers’ comp claims. Visiting with one of these workers’ comp doctors can be very helpful in several ways.
They Understand Common Workers’ Comp Injuries
While your doctor may have a general understanding about many different types of injuries, they likely aren’t an expert in common workers’ comp injuries. They may not know exactly what to look for beyond the basic and immediate issues. This can lead to an undiagnosed injury that doesn’t start to bother you for weeks, months, or even years. By then, it’s too late to make a workers’ comp claim, which means you won’t receive any compensation or help with medical bills.
They Can Help with Paperwork
Workers’ comp experts also understand the paperwork involved in a claim. They can assist you in filling it out and provide reports that include all of the necessary information. A lack of specific information or entire reports can hold up your claim for days, so it’s always important to get this information as soon as you can and submit it through the proper channels. A doctor with years of experience in workers’ comp cases will be able to do just that.
They Are Certified by Your Employer’s Workers’ Comp Insurance
You are limited in what doctors you can see in a workers’ comp case because you can only be evaluated by a doctor authorized by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance company. This means they may not be willing to let you see your doctor. Of course, if it’s a life-threatening emergency, you are certainly allowed to seek medical attention, but in other circumstances, you may need to see a specific workers’ comp expert.
If you need to see a workers’ comp doctor who can help you with your case, the team at Maximum Orthopedics is here for you. Contact us today to make an appointment.
Posted in: Blog, Work Injuries, Workers Compensation Benefits