The right doctor has the potential to be the difference between workers’ compensation claim approval and denial. As a claimant, you have the power to steer the path of your claim. Selecting the right doctor is the first step toward obtaining indemnity payments, medication, durable medical equipment, and more. The experienced Georgia workers’ comp attorney will help you through the process of selecting the right doctor as you go through the process of filing your claim.
Understanding the Georgia Workers’ Compensation System
Georgia’s workers’ compensation system is designed to provide support for those injured at work. The system empowers injured workers like you to choose a doctor for injury or illness analysis. The analysis is performed during an independent medical exam (IME).
Choose the right doctor and he or she will objectively analyze your injury or illness to determine its extent and whether there is a legitimate causal relationship with workplace activities. The doctor’s diagnosis and documentation will be presented before the state’s workers’ compensation board of physicians for review.
Criteria for Choosing the Right Doctor
No two Georgia doctors are equal. Some physicians have experience analyzing injured workers for potential coverage through the state’s workers’ compensation system. Other Georgia doctors are more focused on serving loyal patients.
When choosing a workers’ compensation doctor in Georgia, focus on those with a reputation for being fair toward claimants. The best doctors have experience analyzing work-related injuries.
When in doubt, reach out to your Georgia workers’ compensation attorney for guidance in choosing an unbiased doctor to conduct the medical examination.
Steps to Selecting the Right Doctor
Above all, the doctor should be on the employer’s panel of physicians. These medical professionals have proven to be objective, meaning their opinions carry the weight necessary to justify awards in the form of financial indemnity, durable medical equipment, medication, and more.
However, the list of doctors doesn’t provide the information necessary to make the right selection. Search the internet for the doctors, read reviews, and contact a local Georgia workers’ compensation attorney for insight as to which doctors are claimant-friendly.
If your selected doctor’s analysis of your injury or illness seems slanted toward your employer or if your claim is denied, don’t panic. There is the option of obtaining a second opinion through another doctor that might pave a path toward the approval of workers’ compensation benefits.
Working With Your Doctor
When interacting with your selected doctor, consider him or her an ally instead of a critic. Though physicians conducting IMEs for workers’ compensation cases are required to be analytical, they are almost always fair. Be cordial and positive during your interactions with the doctor and he or she will be more inclined to use examination report language that increases the likelihood of claim approval.
It is a mistake to completely rely on your selected workers’ compensation claim physician to document visits and treatments. Chronicle each visit with the physician with detailed records of your own as there is the potential for the physician’s office to overlook important details or even lose records.
Role of a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
You are not alone in your battle to obtain the benefits you need and deserve. Lean on an experienced workers’ compensation attorney for guidance in choosing the best possible doctor.
A savvy Georgia workers’ compensation attorney will represent you in formal hearings pertaining to medical treatment disputes. Your attorney will also closely analyze all relevant documentation including medical reports to ensure they accurately support your claim.
Learn More During a Consultation With Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Your selected doctor’s attention to detail and even subtleties such as word choice ultimately shape the outcome of your case. Choose wisely and you’ll emerge with a fair result. Contact us today for guidance.