In workers’ compensation cases, physical therapy plays a crucial role in helping injured workers recover and return to their job duties. Here are the steps My PT takes when working with patients as part of their recovery plan:
- Injury Rehabilitation: We assess the cause and extent of the work-related injury and develop customized recovery plans. These plans often include manipulations, assisted stretching, and exercises to restore mobility, strength, and function.
- Pain Management: We work on pain management strategies to help alleviate discomfort associated with work-related injuries. This may involve hands-on techniques, therapeutic exercises, and tools such as electrical stimulation and cold laser. We recommend at-home heat or cold therapy.
- Functional Restoration: The goal is to restore the injured worker’s ability to perform daily activities and work-related tasks. We work on improving functional capacity and addressing any limitations caused by the injury.
- Preventing Disability: We aim to prevent long-term disability by promoting early intervention and rehabilitation. The sooner physical therapy can begin, the better the chances of reducing the risk of chronic pain and disability, allowing a quicker return to work.
- Education and Prevention: A major part of our process includes educating injured workers on proper body mechanics, ergonomics, and injury prevention strategies. This helps in minimizing the risk of future workplace injuries.
- Collaboration with Healthcare Providers: We often work with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and occupational therapists, to ensure a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.
- Case Management Support: We submit all of the documentation, billing, and requests for Physical Therapy authorization directly through the Workers’ Compensation insurance company. If you have a lawyer involved, we will also submit the appropriate paperwork to them upon written request.
It’s important to note that our role can vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury. We may also be limited by the regulations and guidelines within the workers’ compensation case. Workers’ compensation laws and policies can differ between states or countries, which the American Physical Therapy Association has outlined on its website.
Frequently Asked Workers’ Comp Questions
What are workers’ compensation injuries?
Getting hurt at work can change your life in so many ways. Fortunately, employers should have workers’ compensation insurance or another state-approved plan to provide care and compensation in the event of an employee getting hurt on the job. The majority of work-related injuries are categorized as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These MSDs include sprains, strains, back or neck pain, dislocations, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, disc herniations, meniscus tears, plus more. Causes of MSDs could be overexertion, repetitive use, poor posture, slips, trips, falls, a crush or puncture injury. Other types of injuries can happen at work that could result in death or permanent disability.
Our brick-and-mortar Physical Therapy office is located in Southwick MA which makes it a convenient healing destination to neighboring towns including those right over the state border for CT residents. We will serve clients with work-related injuries that take place in either the State of Connecticut or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
How do I report an injury that happened due to work?
Injured workers should report their injuries to their employer as soon as possible so they can receive timely care. It’s best not to wait to report an injury however it might be a matter of time before it’s realized that work is causing the problem. Connecticut has a 1-year statute of limitations for reporting accidental injuries to employers from the date of injury and up to 3 years from the time of first onset of occupational illness. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a 4-year statute of limitations for reporting an injury from the time the injury was recognized. Besides getting care sooner helps the chance for a quicker recovery and return to normal work, the longer a person knowingly waits to report a work-related injury claim, the greater the chance for the employer to dispute the claim.
How do I file a claim with the workers’ compensation insurance company?
Once the injury is reported to the employer, a First Report of Injury or Accident Report is completed to go on file. In Connecticut, the injured worker has to follow the instructions and submit an injury claim form to the employer and the Workers Compensation Commission District office. The claim form is different from the First Report of Injury. The process in Massachusetts is different, where the employer submits a form with the First Reports of Injury to the workers’ compensation insurance company and the Department of Accidental Injuries on your behalf. It can get confusing so ask your employer or the human resource department questions about the process. For a complete guide for what to do if you’re hurt at work in Connecticut, please visit the Workers’ Compensation Commission. If you are hurt at work in Massachusetts, Mass.gov has a guide for you.
Where do I go after I get hurt at work?
In most MSDs that happen at work, rather than going to the Emergency Department, the first place you will likely go is to an occupational health clinic or your primary care provider. Most employers will have a predetermined location for examining work-related injuries. The consulting health practitioner will perform tests and look at your problem area to determine the best course of action. Sometimes, you will be given minor treatment and cleared to return to work unrestricted. With worse conditions, you may be prescribed medications, rest, light duty at work, P.R.I.C.E. (protect, rest, ice, compress, and elevate), given a brace/support to wear, and referred for specialized treatment. Common referrals are to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or chiropractic.
What information do I need to start Physical Therapy?
If you are going to Physical Therapy then someone referred you or ordered PT for you. Provide the “referral” or “orders” to the PT in paper form or electronically ahead of time. Along with your referral or orders for PT, also provide your claim number, the insurance claim adjuster’s name and phone number, and your date of injury. This information will be necessary for when you go see a Physical Therapist to help with the work injury. It will tell them where to get authorization before starting PT and where to send billing and documentation to the correct parties.
You will be designated a claim number as well as a claim adjuster from the insurance company. You will likely get a letter in the mail from the claim adjuster and most of this information you’ll need to pass on to the health providers you go to. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks to receive. You may need to speak to your employer or human resources to get the information quicker.
You will be designated a claim number as well as a claim adjuster from the insurance company. You will likely get a letter in the mail from the claim adjuster and most of the information you’ll need to pass on to the health providers you go to. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks to receive. You may need to speak to your employer or human resources to get the information quicker.
What happens if I have a severe accident at work?
Sometimes injuries at work are severe enough to send you to the hospital by ambulance. You won’t have to worry about having this information handy, they will take care of you if you are in an emergency. You may not need PT right away, but physical rehabilitation could come at a later time when your body stabilizes the injury.
What happens when I’m out of work and getting paid less?
When you are out of work because your body needs an absolute rest from the job or if your employer doesn’t have light-duty options, you will have time to wrap your head around the situation. If the injury is “life-changing” then you may be out of work for a long period. You will likely be receiving some wages while being out of work from the work injury but it will not be 100%. Connecticut can pay between 20-75% of your average earnings vs. Massachusetts which can cover between 60-66.66%. You may also be entitled to reimbursement for mileage to and from related medical appointments. Keep a mileage record and discuss with the insurance adjuster how to submit it.
Who will help me navigate the process to return back to work?
Both the primary work injury health provider and the PT will certainly “hold your hand” through the journey to get back to work. Work injury cases that go on for more than a month usually get assigned a nurse case manager from the insurance company. Every company does it a little differently. This individual reviews all of your work-injury medical notes to help make sure you are getting the right care. They become the liaison to the insurance company for you and your medical providers. Expect a phone call from them here and there to touch base on your progress.
When can I go back to work full-time and full-duty?
You can go back to work and full duty when the referring health provider, the PT, and you agree to go back to work. Understanding what your job duties are, the PT can prepare you for regaining the range of motion, strength, endurance, and stability required to be successful in going back to work. Healing time is one of the most important factors and depending on the severity of your injury, no one can rush the natural process of repairing human tissue.
Some individuals are at a higher risk of re-injury if sent back to work too soon. So you may be physically tested to perform activities that mimic the stresses on your body when at work. If you have a physically demanding job and it’s been several months of being out of work, you may be recommended to have a Functional Capacity Evaluation and/or go for work hardening/conditioning training. These can be completed by a physical therapist but not all PTs offer this type of training.
Do I need a lawyer?
That is up to each individual. I’ve seen clients have smooth experiences with insurance companies and employers after work injuries. Unfortunately, there are cases where the injured worker has been and continues to be taken advantage of or there is negligence. The best advice is to speak to a lawyer who handles workers’ compensation cases. Many lawyers won’t charge for the consultation. You will learn more about the rights you have and figure out if it’s worth having a professional advocate in your corner.