Workers’ compensation insurance provides lost wages and medical care to people who experience work-related injuries. At Pavilion Family Medicine, workers’ comp specialists John Ribadeneyra, MD, and Deanna Brown, FNP, provide expert evaluations and medical care for patients in and around the Montrose, Colorado, area. If you have workers’ compensation questions, book an appointment online or call the office today.
request an appointmentWhat is workers’ compensation?
Workers’ compensation is insurance that covers the medical needs of people who experience work-related injuries. The insurance also compensates a portion of lost wages. All employers in the state of Colorado are required to maintain this type of insurance.
What happens after a work-related injury?
After any work-related injury, whether very minor or quite serious, workers’ compensation law requires you to follow certain steps to ensure you receive compensation and medical coverage.
For any emergency or life-threatening injury, step one is going to the closest emergency room for medical care. For non-emergency injuries, you must notify your employer of the injury within 10 days.
Your employer provides a designated provider list, from which you must choose a medical provider for your workers’ comp care. If Pavilion Family Medicine is on your designated provider list, you may choose them as your workers’ comp provider.
How does workers’ compensation care work?
Workers’ compensation care is unique to each patient. Pavilion Family Medicine provides comprehensive physical exams, imaging tests, functional assessments, and medical care attuned to your needs.
Some common aspects of workers’ comp injury recovery include physical therapy, activity modification, a gradual return to work, and wearing protective equipment at work.
Workers’ comp patients may need surgery in certain cases, especially with more serious injuries like major fractures. If you need surgery and Pavilion Family Medicine is your designated provider, they can recommend the right surgeon for your needs and continue managing your overall medical care.
Your workers’ comp care continues until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means you’re treated as fully as possible and can’t reasonably expect further improvement in your condition.
In many cases, reaching MMI means that you’re fully healed and able to resume all normal activities. But, in other situations, patients reach MMI but have a long-term disability related to their injury.
Pavilion Family Medicine recommends the return-to-work schedule that fits your medical needs the best and provides ongoing support until you reach MMI.
Workers’ comp cases can be complicated, so it’s incredibly helpful to choose a designated medical care provider that understands how the process works. If Pavilion Family Medicine is on your designated provider list, choosing them will give you the expert care you need to navigate this challenging time successfully. Call the office or book an appointment online now.