I was hurt at work and neededto see a doctorfor my injury. My foreman took me to a "workers clinic." Do I have to get medical treatment for my work related injury at this "workers clinic"?

 

A:

Hell no.  A lot of construction companies take injured workers directly to these corporate and insurance supported "workers clinics" that seem to be staffed with physicians assistants - not real doctors and certainly not the medical specialists serious work injuries and conditions require, such as orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.  And what kind of health care professional chooses to work at such a corporate "clinic"?  Is their loyalty to the patient who was hurt on the job or the insurance company or corporation funding the "workers clinic"?

In D.C. and Maryland, workers hurt on the job have the absolute right to choose their treating physician under workers compensation law.  In Virginia, the workers compensation insurance company provides a panel of three physicians to choose from.

Don't believe the construction company "safety man" or a foreman, supervisor or co-worker who tells an injured worker he has to go to a "workers clinic." 

Know your rights when you get hurt at work so you can protect yourself and your family. 




WARNING:

If you were seriously hurt at work don't talk to any insurance adjuster, nurse case manager, give a recorded statement or sign anything until you read Protect Your Rights:  The Injured Worker's Guide to D.C. Workers' Compensation or talk to an experienced lawyer.

Protect Your Rights is a 75 page book on D.C. workers compensation and is available free to anyone who has been hurt at work or any family member of anyone hurt on the job. 

Written by nationally recognized, Board Certified trial attorney Frank R. Kearney, this book explains your rights and responsibilities - everything the insurance company won't do.