A work injury is something we all fear and strive to prevent. However, there are millions of recordable workplace illnesses and injuries each year in the United States. If you’ve experienced an orthopedic injury at work, you should see a reputable orthopedic doctor who can treat you quickly and oversee the workers’ compensation process. In this blog, we will outline what to know about seeing an orthopedic specialist if you are injured at work.
1. See Your Orthopedic Doctor Right Away
Don’t delay if you have been hurt at work. Seek medical attention from an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible. This not only ensures proper and timely treatment, but it also helps to establish a clear link between your injury and your workplace. This is crucial for filing a workers’ compensation claim in the state of Maryland.
2. Your Orthopedic Doctor Will Examine You
During your initial visit with the orthopedic doctor, he or she will perform a physical examination to assess the extent of your work-related injury. Your assessment may include taking X-rays or other imaging tests to better understand the nature of your musculoskeletal injury. The results will help your orthopedic surgeon determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition.
3. Treatment Options May Include Surgery, Therapy or Medication
Depending on the type and severity of your work injury, your orthopedic doctor will develop a detailed treatment plan. It could include medications, splinting, casting, physical therapy or even surgery.
Your doctor will explain your injury and your treatment options in detail. He or she will consider your job, age, overall health and other factors in deciding what is best for recovery and return to work.
4. Your Orthopedic Doctor Will Document Your Injury and Treatments for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
You need to see an orthopedic specialist who knows the workers’ compensation process, including the documentation and reporting requirements. The doctor and professional team will keep detailed records of your injury, treatments and progress to support your workers’ compensation claim.
As your case proceeds, your orthopedic doctor will gather medical information to verify your maximum medical improvement, or MMI. MMI is the point at which your work injury or condition has healed as much as possible. It also states whether or not further treatment will improve your condition in any significant way.
At this point, your doctor can determine if you have any permanent impairments and issue a disability rating. If you do require ongoing medical care after reaching your MMI, your orthopedic doctor will continue to monitor and treat your work injury. Treatment may include follow-up appointments, physical therapy sessions and prescribing additional medication or surgeries needed.
Be sure you understand and follow the recommendations of your orthopedic doctor for both successful recovery and a strong workers’ compensation claim. If you have any concerns or questions about your treatment plan, discuss them with your healthcare provider so that they can be addressed in a timely and appropriate way.
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder in Maryland, we have highly qualified upper extremity physicians on staff who can perform independent medical examinations for workers’ compensation claims. We work closely with workers, their employers, lawyers and insurance carriers to ensure fair and complete fulfillment of workers’ compensation benefits.
Orthopedic Doctor Near Me in Lutherville, MD
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, we have eight board-certified orthopedic specialists on our team. They are experienced and caring experts in conditions and injuries of the hand, wrist, elbow, arm and shoulder. They understand how devastating and worrisome a work-related injury to an upper extremity can be. Our doctors are dedicated to helping patients heal, receive benefits and return to work whenever possible.
So, if you are injured at work, please call us at (410) 296-6232 for an evaluation and state of the art treatment plan or request your visit here. We can get you the care you need to recover fully and help you with your workers’ compensation claim.
We have offices in Lutherville, Bel Air, Clarksville, Pasadena and Westminster, MD. Don’t wait. We can help you regain the full function of your upper extremities and get you back to work.
