There are often times when injured workers disagree with their treating physicians, or simply want another doctor’s opinion before having treatment that concerns them, such as surgery or invasive testing. So how do second opinions happen in workers’ compensation cases? The easiest way is for your treating physician to request the second opinion. [...]
This is a common question from people who want to settle their workers’ compensation claim but would like to keep their lifetime casually related medical coverage in case they need care later. This is a valid concern, and your medical situation is a big factor in deciding whether or not to settle. In theory, [...]
You may have heard your physician mention maximum medical improvement (MMI). In workers’ compensation, MMI means that your physician believes you have recovered as much as you are going to. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep treating, rather it means that your physician no longer expects improvement. However, if you are in pain we [...]
After you report your injury (and it is an accepted injury) the employer or carrier is supposed to offer you a panel of three physicians. Picking a doctor is a very important decision because once you choose your doctor, he becomes your authorized treating physician. Many people simply look at the list and choose the [...]
When your treating physician feels that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) they may send you for a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to determine your permanent work restrictions. These are done when your physician recognizes that you have not returned to where you were prior to your work injury, but other than ongoing maintenance [...]
