What Should I Bring to My Workers' Compensation Exam?

Workers’ compensation is a system designed to support workers’ health as well as protect employers from lawsuits. Employers pay into the system, which benefits them in several ways, including legally. And, if you’re injured on the job, or sustain an injury related to work-associated stresses on your body, you can file a workers’ comp claim for monetary support.

It takes specific documentation to access workers’ compensation. At Carolina Urgent Care of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, our team of board-certified providers offers workers’ compensation exams. We’re here to help with the paperwork!

What to bring to your workers’ comp exam

Your workers’ comp exam, also known as an independent medical examination (IME), is a key step in the documentation process. Each state has deadlines for reporting injuries and filing for workers’ comp, so you don’t want to delay getting started.

You should follow all appropriate guidelines when it comes to reporting a workplace injury. Let your employer know about the situation right away, including the exact date, time, and nature of your injury.

You’ll need to get paperwork from your employer, and your employer will need to file a claim with their insurer. If your employer or their insurer writes a letter for your IME doctor, you should review the letter ahead of time.

We’ll have access to your medical records, including records of previous injuries. Be open and honest with your provider about your medical history, and point out any changes to your condition over time that may be relevant to your workers’ comp case.

At your exam, your provider asks you to recount how your injury happened. If you’ve been treated for the injury already, we review any associated tests, procedures, or surgeries.

In addition to all the documentation we need, you may find it helpful to bring along either a notepad or a friend to take notes for you on information related to your workers’ compensation case.

The benefits of workers’ comp

Workers’ comp protects you from the impact of lost wages resulting from a workplace injury, as well as covering urgent care and rehabilitative treatment costs related to your injury.

Employers also benefit from the workers’ compensation system, gaining protections against lawsuits asserting fault in an injury. If needed, your provider at Carolina Urgent Care can help you communicate about your injury and treatment needs with your employer.

It’s important to get all your documentation related to workers’ compensation in on time, or it may cause your claim to be denied. Following your exam at Carolina Urgent Care, your provider writes an official report, giving a copy to you or your attorney. You may have a right to an additional follow-up exam, or to file an objection.

For the expert support you need to get through the twists and turns of the worker’s compensation process, turn to the team at Carolina Urgent Care. Contact us online or over the phone as soon as you have an on-the-job injury or need a workers’ compensation exam. 

Schedule your appointment online or over the phone today.