Tips When Filing Workers’ Comp as a Healthcare Worker

Healthcare workers’ comp is no different than workers’ comp for other types of injured workers. If you’re someone’s employee and you are injured while performing your job, you’re likely entitled to workers’ comp benefits.

Workers Compensation for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers employed by doctors’ offices, medical facilities, urgent care centers, and other locations should be covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance policies. In Pennsylvania, most employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. From the first day of work for that employer, healthcare workers are covered by workers’ compensation.

Whether they work in dentists’ offices, physical therapy facilities, or hospitals, healthcare workers who get hurt on the job are entitled to workers’ comp benefits.

What Does Workers’ Compensation for Healthcare Workers Cover?

Benefits available through workers’ compensation in healthcare include reasonable medical expenses for treating the work-related injury.

Healthcare workers are entitled to partial wage loss benefits for any time their injuries keep them off work. These benefits are usually paid at about 66 2/3 percent of the employee’s pre-injury average weekly wage, subject to state minimums and maximums. Additionally, some workers return to work at a reduced rate of pay because their injury resulted in work restrictions. These workers may be entitled to partial disability benefits. Partial disability benefits pay two-thirds of the difference between the injured worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage and their current average weekly wage.

Workers’ comp may pay specific loss benefits if a worker loses vision or hearing while on the job. Other specific losses can include the loss of use of limbs or parts of limbs, including fingers and toes. 

If the healthcare worker dies because of their work injury, their dependents may claim benefits and up to $3,000 to cover burial expenses.

Tips for Filing for Workers’ Comp as a Healthcare Worker

If you’ve been injured while performing your duties as a healthcare worker, the following recommendations can strengthen your claim for workers’ compensation benefits:

• Seek Medical Care – Get treatment immediately. Unless you require emergency care, check to see if your employer has posted a list of physicians or healthcare providers you’re required to use. Seek treatment from one of those. If no list is posted, you may choose your own provider.
• Report the Injury – Report the injury within 21 days, but not later than 120 days after the accident, to maintain eligibility for benefits.
• File a Written Claim for Benefits – If your employer denies your claim, you have three years to file a written claim petition for benefits with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. 
• Gather Necessary Evidence/Request Medical Records – Get copies of your medical records and your job description. If a co-worker witnessed the accident, ask whether they’d be willing to give a witness statement.
• Avoid Social Media – Your employer or their workers’ compensation carrier may review your social media posts for information they can use to show that you’re not as badly injured as you claim. 
• Document Your Injuries and Symptoms – Keep a written log of your injuries and your daily symptoms. Note how the injuries affect your daily activities.
• Seek Help from a Workers’ Comp Attorney – Call an experienced workers’ comp lawyer to handle your claim for you.

Contact Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today for Help

The seasoned workers’ comp attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky, P.C., have been protecting injured workers and securing the benefits they deserve for over 20 years. Call today and let us handle all the details of your case so you can focus on healing.