Eleven Considerations for Selecting Your Workers’ Comp Company Doctor

When selecting a company doctor or a preferred occupational medicine clinic for your workforce, it is crucial to keep several key factors in mind. Ensuring that your employees receive top-notch care, while also focusing on reducing downtime, improving recovery, and fostering a positive working relationship between employer, employee, and medical provider, is essential. Here are eleven important considerations to guide your decision-making process.

1. Responsive to Employee Needs and Early Return to Work

An effective occupational medicine provider should prioritize your employees’ health and focus on getting them back to work as soon as it is safe. This requires being highly responsive to employee needs while carefully considering both the medical condition and the requirements of the job. The company doctor should focus on rehabilitation while ensuring that any modified duties fit within the employee’s recovery plan. A swift, safe return to work minimizes downtime and supports workplace productivity.

2. Familiarity with Your Company Operations

The best occupational medicine clinics or physicians will take the time to visit your workplace, understand your operations, and observe the jobs your employees are performing. By doing so, they gain a deeper understanding of the physical demands associated with different roles. This allows the provider to make better-informed decisions about return-to-work restrictions and timelines. They will be better equipped to offer job-specific medical advice that aligns with the realities of your workplace.

3. Prompt Appointment Scheduling

Time is of the essence when an injury occurs. Your preferred clinic should be able to schedule appointments quickly and without unnecessary delays. Immediate attention not only expedites medical care, but it also shows employees that their well-being is a priority. Additionally, flexibility in scheduling helps ensure that employees can access care at times that do not disrupt company operations unnecessarily.

4. Personalized Attention for Injured Employees

In certain cases, an injured worker may need extra time with the physician to understand the treatment process or clarify any concerns about recovery. A company doctor should be willing to provide that level of personalized attention, ensuring that each employee feels heard and confident in their treatment plan. By addressing concerns thoroughly, the employee is more likely to adhere to the treatment plan, leading to better outcomes.

5. Incorporation of Transitional Duty Accommodations

An occupational physician or clinic should review your company’s job descriptions and be familiar with your transitional duty program. This ensures they are prepared to make specific accommodations that allow injured workers to return to modified duties when possible. The use of your forms and processes helps create a seamless integration between medical restrictions and job assignments, ultimately reducing the time an employee spends away from work.

6. Efficient Communication of Medical Records

Communication is critical, especially when it comes to sharing medical records with insurance claims adjusters or your company. Your provider should be ready and able to supply the necessary documentation in a timely manner, provided it is in compliance with privacy laws. By streamlining this process, the provider helps ensure smooth claims management, reducing delays in treatment authorization or return-to-work decisions.

7. Clear Return-to-Work Release

When an employee is ready to return to work, the company physician should provide a clear and detailed written release, outlining any ongoing medical restrictions. This documentation is essential for ensuring that both the employer and the employee are aligned on the conditions under which the employee will return to work. The written release helps protect both parties from future misunderstandings regarding job responsibilities and recovery needs.

8. Caring Attitude and Pleasant Manner

A doctor’s demeanor plays a significant role in the treatment experience. Your chosen occupational medicine provider should exhibit a caring attitude and maintain a pleasant, professional manner. This not only fosters trust between the employee and the physician, but it also contributes to a more positive recovery experience. An approachable and empathetic doctor is more likely to encourage employee engagement and adherence to recovery protocols.

9. Credentials and Community Reputation

It is vital to ensure that the clinic or physician is fully credentialed and board-certified in occupational medicine or a related field. A provider with an excellent reputation in the community is more likely to deliver high-quality care, adhere to best practices, and collaborate effectively with other medical professionals. Trusting a well-regarded and experienced provider gives you confidence that your employees are in good hands.

10. Willingness to Handle Workers’ Compensation Cases

Workers’ compensation cases come with unique requirements and responsibilities. Your preferred provider must not only accept workers’ compensation cases but also be well-versed in the reporting and communication needs involved. A clinic that understands the paperwork and legal aspects of workers’ compensation will make the process smoother for your company, ensuring that cases are handled efficiently and in compliance with regulations.

11. Collaborative Approach with Case Managers and Peer Reviewers

Collaboration is key when it comes to managing complex cases. An ideal company physician will work closely with case managers, peer reviewers, and other medical professionals to ensure that employees receive the best possible care. This level of collaboration helps create a comprehensive treatment plan that considers multiple perspectives, ensuring that care is optimized and aligned with workers’ compensation requirements.

Conclusion

Selecting a company doctor or preferred occupational clinic is not a decision to be taken lightly. The right provider can help reduce workers’ compensation costs, improve employee satisfaction, and enhance your company’s overall productivity by ensuring swift and safe return-to-work processes. By considering these eleven factors, employers can build a partnership with a medical provider that prioritizes both the health of employees and the operational needs of the business.

Michael Stack, CEO of Amaxx LLC, is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and provides education, training, and consulting to help employers reduce their workers’ compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is co-author of the #1 selling comprehensive training guide “Your Ultimate Guide to Mastering Workers’ Comp Costs: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%.” Stack is the creator of Injury Management Results (IMR) software and founder of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center. WC Mastery Training teaching injury management best practices such as return to work, communication, claims best practices, medical management, and working with vendors. IMR software simplifies the implementation of these best practices for employers and ties results to a Critical Metrics Dashboard.

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: http://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

Injury Management Results (IMR) Software: https://imrsoftware.com/

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