Comments for WELCH&CONDON

Comment on Independent Medical Exams or IME’s by Terri

Terri — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:45:41 +0000

You are entitled to a copy of the IME report. Make a request in writing to the Department or the third-party administrator handling your claim, and they will send you a copy as soon as they receive it. If you have a state fund L&I claim you can see and print a copy from the Department’s Claim and Account Center on-line – just look for Imaged Documents.

Comment on Independent Medical Exams or IME’s by Missy

Missy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:27:04 +0000

Why is it,or what WAC or RCW code is it, that protects IME providers from RCW codes such as RCW 70.02.080, 51.36.060, OR 70.02.005, with regards to failing to furnish the injured worker with a copy of an IME report, if the injured worker is not represented by an attorney? From what I have read and understand, an IME report is part of my permanent medical record, therefore, I (as an injured worker) am entitled to a copy of the report, from the (IME) provider. Also, how is it that IME providers offices, do not have to have HIPAA information out?

thanks

Comment on Light Duty Trap by Rene LaPolla

Rene LaPolla — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:59:56 +0000

how do I find a good attorney that will work in his best behalf? I’ve had several attorney’s where I ended up doing most the work myself and never got good results. These people are going to close his claim basied on an x-ray and x-rays don’t show muscle damage. Even his a/p is falling for that one and I’ve tried to find a doctor that treats just muscles and they don’t exist apparently. Inow there are good attorney’s out there I just haven’t had any luck finding one.

Comment on Light Duty Trap by Terri

Terri — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:33:44 +0000

If your son has legitimate complaints about the IME physician who evaluated him he can and should write a letter to the Medical Director of the Department. The Department takes complaints seriously, and will investigate where appropriate. That said, these evaluations often come to conclusions much different from those of the worker’s attending medical provider. I suggest your son take a copy of the exam report to his Doctor, and ask the physician to provide a detailed response, focusing on objective findings on exam which are consistently noted by the attending provider, and missed or downplayed by the IME physician. Your son’s physician can also request a psychiatric consultation if there are concerns that mental health issues may be related to the injury, or may be delaying or retarding recovery. And, yes, I am going to encourage your son to get an attorney. Sometimes it is just what is necessary to protect the worker’s rights, and insure he receives the benefits and treatment he is entitled to under the statute.

Comment on Light Duty Trap by Rene LaPolla

Rene LaPolla — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:43:26 +0000

My son had another IME with a doctor who also did one in 2008. This doctor used have a practice who used to be an injured workers doctor who would say no one could work that he was treating. Now he has flipped to the other side and states that my son is faking his injury and can work in any capacity, but did rate him a category 1 for cervical-dorsal impairment. This doctor shouldn’t be able to practice, not only is he unethical but he pulls a stick pin out of a draw & uses it to stick you & everyone else who is lucky enough to be sent to him. Is there anything I can do about this doctor? I know you want me to bring an attorney in but we just cannot afford one & I’m scared that my son is going to crack, he has no coping skills left since he has been injured. I believe he has signs of PTSD.

Comment on Light Duty Trap by Terri

Terri — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:26:31 +0000

Hire an attorney. I am not being flip – you have just reached the end of being able to manage this claim yourselves. Your son might want to consider seeing a Physiatrist – a physical medicine rehabilitation physician. This type of medical provider can make sure he is getting the proper treatment for his injury, and can properly assess his level of functioning and careful review the job analyses which I am sure are flying around. Your son’s PPD (permanent partial disability) award is not likely to be high, given his diagnosis, so it is important to try and get as much vocational assistance as possible to help him return to the work force. Get help. While an attorney can never guarantee an outcome, a good attorney will make sure your son gets the benefits he is entitled to receive, and that is really all we can ask out of the system, isn’t it?

Comment on Light Duty Trap by Rene LaPolla

Rene LaPolla — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:18:04 +0000

My son was injuried on the job with a moving company. He sustained an injury to his back they call a strain/sprain. He has been through physical therapy feeling worse then before the treatment. He was then treated by a chiropractor
which was a temporary fix. He has a VRC who tried to find him employable as a fast food counter worker and not only can he not stand for 8 hrs. he ha no experience in that field. Now they are trying to say he can deliver pizzas and his PCE under trunk rotation both sitting and standing says never. In order to drive you have to rotate @ the trunk unless you never turn to drive properly. This has been going on for almost 2 years and his condition is worse than it was @ the time of injury. Any suggestions?

Comment on Light Duty Work by Terri

Terri — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:48:05 +0000

If your medical provider has approved the return to the light duty job, you should go to work, or risk losing your benefits. That said, you should clearly talk to your doctor about the drive, and make sure you are authorized to do it. He may well suggest you avoid taking the meds until after your shift; or may conclude you can not do the drive given the medication. In any event – let your physician’s advice guide you at this point.

Comment on Light Duty Work by Michael Logan

Michael Logan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:59:18 +0000

I have a work related injury. I drive a truck over the road. I fell on the job. I am receiving loss wages benifits. I have 3 ruptured disks in my neck and 2 in my lower back. I am facing surgery at the least in my neck if not both neck and lower back. My employer has created a job that did not exist befor my injury. He wants me to do light duty as a night watchman sitting at a desk and answering a phone that nobody will be calling because there is nobody around to do anything. I am taking prescribed strong pain meds. With my condition I am walking with a walker and cannot drive because of the meds. Do I have to take the light duty work if I cannot drive because of meds? I dont understand what the purpose of trying to put me to work at a job that never existed before and having doing anything at a job on heavy meds. I cannot by law drive a vehicle of any kind to and from work because the narcotic meds. By the way it is 80mi one way to and from my job. Please give me advice on what I can do at this point and time?

Comment on Light Duty Work by Terri

Terri — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:47:20 +0000

You don’t say if the shoulder surgery was done under a workers compensation claim. I’m guessing yes, or you are not likely to have posted your question here. If this is a workers compensation claim, and your employer tells you to stay home because they do not think you can do your job yet, then you are entitled to time loss benefits. You shouldn’t be using your vacation days. Talk to your doctor about restrictions on your work activities, then share those restrictions with your employer.