The relationship between doctor and patient is sacrosanct. As a patient, you need to be able to trust your doctor’s skill and care. Fortunately, Wisconsin is one of the few states that allows patients to select the physician they want to see following a workplace injury.
It can be costly to treat a medical ailment after you suffer an injury at work. You may lose significant wages as well, especially if your injury makes it impossible for you to work for some time. It’s critical that you choose the doctor who best suits your needs so that you can make a faster, better recovery.
How do you select a physician to treat a workplace injury if you don’t already have a doctor? Here are some tips:
Identify a medical provider that you trust
While you may have no little choice over who you see if you visit an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room, you’ll want to definitely take their referrals and follow up with a primary care doctor as soon as you can.
Ideally, you want a doctor who is familiar with the type of injury you have. If that’s not possible, find a physician who won’t hesitate to send you to a specialist for additional evaluation or treatment when you need it. You should also make certain that your personalities mesh and you feel comfortable discussing both your injuries and your workers’ comp claim with them.
Look for a doctor with workers’ comp experience
While all doctors receive training in writing medical notes, one that has experience in handling workers’ compensation claims will likely have the necessary knowledge to establish a connection between your injury and ability to work. Their ability to connect these two concepts may prove invaluable should you need to appeal a denied claim. Plus, their familiarity with the paperwork involved can be a plus.
The steps that you must take following a workplace accident may seem overwhelming. It can be helpful to have someone who understands the claims process guiding you along the way. A workers’ compensation attorney can provide you with that guidance when you need it most.
