Workplace injuries may result in long-term pain and disabling health problems that can affect your ability to continue to work. Triple board-certified physiatrist Stanley Mathew, MD, of American Rehabilitation Medicine in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Dubuque, Iowa, provides expert rehabilitation services for people who have workplace injuries, as well as offering independent medical examinations for employers and insurers. Call American Rehabilitation Medicine today to find out more or book an appointment online.
Workplace injuries are accidents or conditions that occur when you’re at work or because of your job. These injuries may include:
You can also suffer hearing or vision loss at work. Workplace injuries can lead to chronic health problems and disability. If you incur an injury or get sick at work, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation is a method that provides insurance coverage for employees who suffer injuries at work or get sick because of their jobs.
Each American state has a Workers’ Compensation Board that oversees claims and payouts. The board also helps resolve disputes if they arise between insurers, employers, and employees. Employers contribute to a fund that pays for the insurance coverage, so all workers are covered.
Your entitlement to workers’ comp doesn’t depend on who is to blame for your accident or illness. If you think your employer is to blame, you should see a lawyer, but blame forms no part of the workers’ comp scheme – that is unless you deliberately hurt someone else or yourself, or you were intoxicated.
Workers’ compensation is all about supporting you financially when you can’t work or have a permanent disability because of your job.
Treatment for workplace injuries is likely to vary depending on the nature of your illness or disability. Dr. Mathew at American Rehabilitation Medicine specializes in chronic pain and musculoskeletal injuries, which might require:
Dr. Mathew designs a personalized program to help you recover from your workplace injury. The aim is to get you as fit and well as possible, so you’re ready to go back to work.
An independent medical examination (IME) is a service Dr. Mathew provides for employers or insurers when they wish to have an employee assessed by an impartial physician.
In these cases, Dr. Mathew doesn’t have a relationship with the patient; he simply carries out an assessment and reports his findings to the person’s employer or the insurance carrier.
Dr. Mathew is highly experienced in carrying out IMEs as well as being an expert on physical rehabilitation after a workplace injury. If you need help or advice, call American Rehabilitation Medicine today, or book an appointment online.