Orthopedic Care and Workers' Compensation Services: What You Should Know

When injuries happen on the job, the journey to recovery can sometimes be a complex process to navigate. It is important to have workers’ compensation experts to support employers and the injured worker during these times. Orthopedics is the branch of medicine focused on the musculoskeletal system which plays a critical role in treating workplace injuries. Workers' compensation provides the financial and medical support employees need to heal and return to work. Understanding how these two areas connect can help injured workers get the best orthopedic care and outcomes possible.

What is Orthopedics?

Orthopedics deals with injuries and conditions that affect bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Orthopedic specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of issues, including sprains, strains, complex fractures, repetitive stress injuries and more. Treatments can include physical therapy, medication, braces, injections, conservative treatment and surgical intervention. When it comes to workers’ compensation services, orthopedic doctors not only treat injuries but also assist insurance adjusters by completing an unbiased assessment to determine if a worker is ready to return to work and if any long-term restrictions are necessary.

Common workplace-related orthopedic injuries include:

• Fractures and broken bones from slips, falls or accidents
• Back and neck injuries from lifting, falls or repetitive strain
• Tendonitis and bursitis from overuse
• Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive hand movements
• Knee and shoulder injuries from twisting, bending or impact

What is Workers' Compensation?

Workers' compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who were injured while on the job. It is designed to protect both workers and employers by ensuring that injured employees receive necessary care and financial support while also limiting the employer’s liability. In a majority of cases, it's a "no-fault" system, meaning workers can receive benefits regardless of how the injury occurred.

Key benefits that employees can receive under workers’ compensation insurance include:

• Medical treatment for the injury (in exchange, workers generally cannot sue their employers)
• Vocational rehabilitation if the worker can't return to their old job
• Wage replacement during recovery

How Orthopedics and Workers' Compensation Work Together

Orthopedic specialists play a crucial role in the workers' compensation process by providing comprehensive care and support to injured workers throughout their recovery. At DMOS Orthopaedic Centers, workers’ compensation patients have access to the full spectrum of orthopedic specialty care, including hand therapy and physical therapy, all designed to restore function and mobility and get you back to work as quickly and safely as possible. 

When an occupational injury occurs, an orthopedic specialist often becomes central to the workers' compensation process. Their responsibilities may include:

• Diagnosis and treatment: Determining the extent of the injury and creating a treatment plan.
• Medical documentation: Providing detailed records that are essential to completing the workers' compensation claim.
• Work status reports: Updating the employer on the status of their employee, whether that means they are ready for full duty, light duty, or must continue to stay off work.
• Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs): Sometimes, insurers request an IME by an orthopedic surgeon to confirm the diagnosis and treatment plan.

In workers’ compensation care, coordinated and timely communication between the orthopedic provider, the injured worker, the employer, and the insurance company is crucial as delays can affect the worker’s benefits and return-to-work timeline. DMOS Urgent Injury Clinics offer convenient access to timely evaluations and treatment, helping to initiate care quickly after an injury occurs. Our workers’ compensation process is further streamlined through a dedicated team of experienced staff and physicians, with a single phone number, fax number, and email address to prioritize each case and ensure efficient communication. We are committed to delivering timely medical and legal reports and actively collaborate with adjusters, employers, and injured workers to help individuals return to work and daily life as safely and quickly as possible.

Workers’ Compensation Care Tips for Injured Workers

If you are injured at work, there are some important steps you should take to ensure you receive comprehensive workers’ compensation care:

• Report the injury immediately to your employer.
• Seek medical attention promptly, preferably with an orthopedic specialist familiar with workers’ compensation cases.
• Follow all treatment plans provided by your orthopedic specialist and keep your appointments.
• Communicate openly with your workers’ compensation doctors and case managers.
• Document symptoms, treatments and conversations about your injury.

Understanding your rights and working closely with knowledgeable healthcare providers can make a huge difference in your recovery and your workers’ compensation claim.

DMOS Orthopaedic Centers: Our Commitments to YOU in Workers’ Compensation Care!

• Walk-in acute injury care and medical evaluations
• Second opinions
• Independent Medical Exams (IMEs)
• Impairment ratings
• Causation determination
• Attorney/legal consults
• Access to orthopedic specialists with knowledge and experience in workers' compensation
• Access to other supportive services including imaging, physical medicine, physical and hand therapy as well as surgery when appropriate