Workers Compensation

Introduction

Skilled physicians and allied professionals at Florida Orthopaedic Institute are ready to treat your workplace injury, so that you can return to work as promptly as possible. Please read our interpretation of benefits provided you by Florida law.

Injury Care

You are entitled to receive medical and/or surgical treatment for your on-the-job injury at no expense to you. This includes medicines, supplies, and in some instances, reimbursement for travel expenses which occur in conjunction with your accident. However, Florida law permits the physician to treat only the workplace injury.

Maximum Medical Improvement

Florida law defines the date of Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) as “the date after which further recovery from trauma, or lasting improvement to an injury or disease can no longer reasonably be anticipated, based upon reasonable medical probability.” What this means to a treating physician is the day when further treatment will not change the patient’s outcome. MMI does not mean that further physical improvement cannot take place.

What If Your Condition Worsens?

If certain unforeseen events occur within one year following care for the workplace injury (example: a previously clean wound begins draining pus), the law provides for a reopening of the case for further care. This reopening usually requires a “material change in condition” such as the example given above. This change must be evident by objective testing, not simply based on complaint of more pain. Should such an event occur, the insurance adjuster should be notified so a visit to the physician can be authorized.

Permanent Partial Impairment

After you have reached MMI, your treating physician is obligated to determine if you have a permanent partial impairment (PPI). The PPI is a functional and anatomic loss, and is not related to the patient’s age, training, work history, etc. Most conditions deserving an impairment rating are located in guides or manuals with the exact amount of the rating listed — this is called a “scheduled loss.”

Medical Reports

Your physician will complete a form DWC-25 (Workers’ Compensation Uniform Medical Treatment/Status Report Form) on every visit. You will be given a copy of this form and a copy will be forwarded to the insurance company. Your employer can also get a copy upon request.

Getting Help

If you have questions about your medical care contact a specialist in workers’ compensation who may be able to assist you at (813) 971-3304. If your questions concern administrative matters (your check is late, a bill has not been paid, etc.), you should call your insurance adjuster.