Your First Visit with an Orthopedic Surgeon in Workers’ Compensation

Florida workers’ compensation can be a slow process and the time that it takes to obtain an appointment with a specialist can be considerable. Depending on your injuries from your accident, you may be sent to be evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. This often happens once an MRI or CT Scan has been performed and the test results come back with findings that suggest you may have sustained serious injury from your work accident. Your workers’ compensation adjuster will select the doctor you are being sent to. If you are being evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, here are some important tips:

Arrive for your appointment early and anticipate filling out important paperwork about your accident and medical history. Tell the truth regarding your medical history and complete the paperwork as fully as possible. It is very important to be on time as the doctors have a very limited time set for your appointment and if you are late, your appointment may be rescheduled and you may face cancellation/rescheduling fees.
If you do not know all the medications you take, bring a list with you. A list of your medical concerns is also an excellent idea to bring with you. Sometimes you may be nervous or your doctor may seem like he or she is in a rush so having a list of your medical questions and concerns will help assure that your questions get addressed.
If you had an MRI, CT scan or X-rays before you saw the orthopedic physician, it will be very important to take any discs or films you have with you. The doctor will want to see the actual films or discs rather than simply review the report(s).
If there is a nurse present from the insurance carrier, you do not need to agree to let the nurse attend your appointment with you. Having a nurse case manager in the exam room with you can interfere with your valuable time with you physician. You have the absolute right to say to any nurse case manager “no thank you, I do not wish for you to attend any exam with my doctors with me.”
The paperwork the orthopedic surgeon gives you after the examination is very important. It will describe not only your present work restrictions, but your treatment plan and a request for authorization of any recommended treatment. Often this treatment includes injections, further tests, prescriptions, or even surgery.
You only get one, one-time change during your entire work-related accident so give your orthopedic surgeon a chance to get to know you and treat you. It is a very serious decision in your claim and one that you should use carefully. If you are considering using your one-time change, please know you can call us and discuss it with the attorneys at Harris Guidi Rosner, before you use it.

If we can assist you with any questions you may have regarding your workers’ compensation case, please call us at (904) 777-7777 for a free consultation with our experienced workers’ compensation team. If you prefer email, email us at mills@harrisguidi.com to set up an appointment.

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Kendall Mills

A Florida native, Kendall has been a Workers' Compensation Attorney for over 17 years. She is an attorney with the Jacksonville Law Firm of Harris Guidi Rosner, P.A.. Kendall has lectured at numerous seminars, including continuing education classes for workers’ compensation claims professionals and she is certified by the Florida Department of Insurance as an instructor in Florida Workers’ Compensation.
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