What is workers’ compensation?

Workers’ compensation, known widely as workers’ comp, is a type of insurance. It covers you if you suffer an injury while working or get sick because of your job, so you don’t experience unnecessary hardship due to your health problem.

Your employer pays contributions into a central fund that purchases workers’ comp insurance coverage, so you don’t have to pay anything. Each state has a Workers’ Compensation Board that manages the fund and oversees the claims and payments.

The board also helps resolve any problems or disagreements between you, the insurers, and your employer.

When couldn’t I claim workers’ compensation?

You can claim workers’ comp providing the cause of your illness or injury is related to your job. The scheme is no-blame — payments aren’t reliant on whose fault it might be that you became sick or injured yourself.

The only circumstances where workers’ comp wouldn’t cover you is if your illness or injury was due to you deliberately attempting to harm yourself or someone else or if you were drinking alcohol or taking drugs at the time.

What do I do if I have a workers’ compensation claim?

As soon as your injury occurs or the illness starts, tell your employer about your situation, make sure there’s a written record, and contact the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation for advice. If the injury is severe, make sure you go to the hospital emergency room.

One of the first stages of a workers’ comp claim is to visit a doctor with authorization from the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation to make a workers’ comp assessment, like the Vital Orthopedic & Spine Institute physicians.

Your provider evaluates your condition and makes a diagnosis. They recommend appropriate treatments and report their findings to the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation.

What treatment might I need when I have a workers’ compensation claim?

When you’re receiving workers’ comp, you should be aiming to get fit enough to return to work without any delay. That means following the treatment program Vital Orthopedic & Spine Institute prepares for you, which might include:

• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
• Joint injections
• Wearing durable medical equipment braces
• Work hardening programs

If your injury is severe or isn’t improving with conservative treatments, you might need to undergo surgery.

If you need support with a workers’ comp claim, call Vital Orthopedic & Spine Institute today or book an appointment online.