Sep 4, 2020
How to Pick the Right Doctor After a Workplace Accident
As you may know, the steps you take after work accident are crucial to both your health and legal rights when pursuing workers’ comp benefits. One of the most crucial steps is seeking medical attention for your injuries. But what doctor should you see? Even before that, what doctor can you see?
Workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state. Below, we discuss what you need to know about seeking medical treatment after a work accident in Georgia and how to ensure you choose a doctor that is right for you.
Receiving Emergency Medical Treatment
A worker who sustains a serious or life-threatening injury that requires immediate medical attention may seek treatment from any doctor or nearest emergency room. Workers’ compensation insurance is required to cover the cost of the treatment they receive at this medical facility, including diagnostic testing, emergency surgery, or x-rays.
Choosing From a Panel of Physicians
Once you receive any emergency treatment you need and your condition has stabilized, your employer will provide you with a list of doctors that you may see for your ongoing treatment. This list is called a panel of physicians and must include:
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At least one orthopedic surgeon
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At least one minority doctor
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No more than two industrial clinics
According to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation, doctors on this list must:
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Be willing to provide care for work injuries
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Be willing to listen to an injured workers’ concerns
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Be aware of the employer’s policy regarding light-duty work and drug screening
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Refer the worker to any needed specialists in a timely manner
Helping You Heal the Right Way
At The Law Offices of Nathaniel F. Hansford, our legal team is dedicated to helping injured workers in Georgia recover the right way. For help choosing the right treating physician or for any questions you have about your potential work injury case, we are here for you.
Contact our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at (770) 741-2825 for dedicated legal representation on your side.
