Applying for Workers’ Comp? How Our Team Can Help

Every year, millions of workers are injured during the course of their work duties, and many of those injuries are serious enough to require medical treatment and time off of work. Workers’ compensation provides important benefits to these women and men, replacing lost wages and paying for medical care to help workers get better as soon as possible. 

But in order to collect workers’ compensation, you need to apply for it and be approved. And in order to be approved, you need to have a workers’ compensation exam performed by a medical provider trained and approved to provide that exam — like our expert team at Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy.

Read on to learn how to prepare for your appointment, what to expect during your exam, and how we can help ensure your workers’ comp claim is processed without a hitch.

Preparing for your workers’ comp exam

Workers’ compensation is overseen by state agencies, and each state has its own rules that guide the workers’ comp claims process, both for workers and for their employers. You can find Hawaii’s workers’ compensation rules here. 

As soon after your injury as possible, write down everything you can recall about the injury, including how and when it happened, and your symptoms. During your visit, we’ll review your documents and discuss how your injury has affected your ability to work or perform other activities. 

Gather documents from any other medical treatments or exams you’ve had, including lab tests or diagnostic imaging and records of emergency room care. Bring any workplace documents you may have been given, including any forms we’ll need to fill out after your exam. 

Taking these preparatory steps helps you follow any guidelines or timelines for the claims process to ensure your claim proceeds as quickly as possible.

Workers’ comp exam and treatment

A workers’ comp physical exam features many evaluations you’ve probably had during your annual physical, along with evaluations specific to your injury. We also use examinations and tests to evaluate your ability to perform your job.

Depending on the type of injury you have, we may order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests, blood tests, or other lab work to confirm (or rule out) a specific diagnosis. Finally, we discuss our findings with you and map out a treatment plan, setting a recovery timeline and giving you an estimated return-to-work date.

The treatment plan we recommend for you depends solely on your health needs and treatment goals, and may include:

• Physical therapy
• Medication
• At-home exercises or stretches
• Casting, bracing, or splinting for orthopedic injuries
• Mobility equipment
• Referrals to specialists as needed

We’ll also provide you and your employer with guidelines regarding recommended work restrictions while you heal.

Filing your workers’ compensation claim

During your visit, your provider fills out your workers’ comp forms, ensuring nothing is left out that could hold up the claims process. 

These forms provide comprehensive information about your exam and its findings. They also provide our professional recommendations regarding your treatment and information on how your injuries affect your work duties.

With workers’ compensation, time is of the essence, and the claims process includes deadlines that must be met. To schedule your workers’ comp exam, book an appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, today.