Every job comes with a certain degree of injury risk. Some professions are objectively more dangerous than others. Those in construction, healthcare and delivery-based professions may have a greater risk of injury than others. However, even those in sedentary careers, like office workers, could be at risk of on-the-job injuries.
Some people have incidents involving workplace equipment. Others get hurt by customers or develop repetitive strain disorders from performing the same job functions repeatedly. Employers usually have workers’ compensation coverage that can provide support for those with job-acquired medical conditions.
Some workers’ compensation claims proceed without any conflict or controversy. Other times, there may be disputes. Employers may try to claim that the worker’s injury wasn’t the result of their job or that it doesn’t affect their job performance. How do people settle disagreements about the origins of an injury, its workplace implications or the treatment they require?
Specialized testing may be necessary
Workers’ compensation coverage can be invaluable to those with work-related medical issues. The benefits available through workers’ compensation include full medical coverage and disability benefits.
Workers’ compensation pays for treatment ranging from physical therapy and surgery to pain management. Workers can also receive wage replacement when they need a leave of absence from their jobs or need to move into lower-paid careers because of their conditions.
A diagnosis alone isn’t always enough to secure workers’ compensation benefits. Workers may need to prove that the condition affects their job performance and that it stems from their employment. When there are disputes about those facts, they may need to undergo testing conducted by a qualified medical evaluator (QME).
When there are disagreements about work-related medical challenges, a QME’s assistance may be necessary. The state can provide a panel of QMEs, and the worker can schedule a testing session with one of those professionals.
The evaluation that follows is a multi-hour process that looks at the functional capabilities of the worker and the extent of their medical condition. The documentation generated by such testing plays a key role in a workers’ compensation claim.
The QME can help validate claims that a medical condition exists because of a worker’s employment. They can also provide insight into what kinds of accommodations and treatment the worker requires to get back to work.
Employees facing conflicts related to a workers’ compensation claim may need help navigating the system. Establishing a direct connection between work and a medical condition is often the first step toward getting benefits.
