Five Documents To Leave The Doctor’s Office With After A Work Injury

You are going to need to have your injuries assessed and documented by a medical professional if you suffer an on-the-job injury and are considering pursuing compensation. This examination will really help to move your claim forward, but the process won’t happen automatically after this visit. You’ll want to leave this appointment armed with knowledge and copies of certain medical documents that you’ll need to include in your injury claim. In today’s blog, we take a look at five documents you’ll want to have when leaving your doctor’s office after being examined for a work injury.

Medical Information To Save After A Work Injury

It’s likely that some of this information will be included on the same document, so don’t assume that you will walk out of your doctor’s appointment with five separate pieces of paper. Just make sure that you have all of this information in writing before you leave the doctor’s office after your initial medical examination following a work injury:

1. Documented Proof Of All Injuries – For starters, you’re going to want a copy of the official medical report that dives into what the doctor discovered at your appointment. You should also have copies or understand how to secure copies of any relevant imaging tests that confirm your diagnosis (like X-ray or MRI results). Written documented proof of the existence of injuries is necessary when filing an injury claim.

2. Proof Of Referral – If you’ve been referred to another medical specialist, you’ll want a copy of your referral letter. Workers’ compensation will provide financial compensation for any treatment or care that is deemed medically necessary, and a referral is considered necessary care. If you don’t have proof of this referral, insurance may deny coverage, claiming that the additional care was not medically necessary.

3. List Of Prescriptions – If you have been put on a specific prescription, or you’ve just been told to take over-the-counter painkillers, get these prescriptions and recommendations in writing and secure a copy for your records. Medication costs will be reimbursed, even for over-the-counter options, if they’ve been medically recommended following a compensable work accident.

4. Written Description of Treatment Plan – As we mentioned above, you will be compensated for health-related expenses that are deemed to be medically necessary. Get any and all treatment recommendations in writing. Again, written word is extremely helpful because it can be verified in seconds. Conversely, if you asked if massage therapy might be helpful, and your doctor said it could be but never wrote that down as part of your treatment plan, you may find that your massage treatment expenses aren’t being covered by insurance. Make sure your treatment plans are clearly written out, and obtain a copy of this treatment plan.

5. Written Work Restrictions – Finally, if your doctor has put any restrictions in place in regards to your physical limitations or work ability, get these restrictions in writing. If your employer is going to try and create light duty work for you, or the insurance company wants to learn how much time you are expected to miss, you’ll want to have a copy of these work restrictions in your possession.

If you have all this information and you pass it along to your workers’ compensation lawyer, we’re confident that you’ll be putting yourself in a great position to maximize your compensation and avoid any unnecessary delays. For assistance with any aspect of your injury claim, we hope you’ll reach out to Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.