How to Choose A Worker’s Compensation Provider

As an employer in Colorado, you are legally required to have worker’s compensation insurance in case of a workplace injury. You must also designate at least four medical care providers or clinics that your workers can choose from if they are injured. Finding a trustworthy, experienced provider will ensure that your employees receive the best possible care, and choosing a provider that knows the ins-and-outs of the law and the special approach to care it requires is incredibly important.

Choosing the Best Workers Comp Provider for Your Business:

Search for Local Providers or Clinics

There are several resources available to find a list of local providers or clinics that can provide worker’s compensation care. If you are looking for an insurance company that can write worker’s compensation insurance in Colorado, this page from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will get you started. If you already have an insurance company, they can provide you with resources to find local medical providers or clinics in their network. When looking for potential providers, make sure they are up to date with their Board certifications and licenses, and that there is no history of malpractice or negligent care.

Research the Clinic Website

Take a moment to look at the clinic’s website. Their contact info and hours are the first things to check, including extended hours/after-hours care information. The most important thing to look for is whether the clinic even mentions “worker’s compensation” on their site. If not, this could mean that the clinic does not have much experience with worker’s compensation care.

Afterward, read what other people think about the clinic. Clinic website reviews are a good place to start, and there are several online platforms that will let you know if people are satisfied with the clinic’s service, or signal any potential problems that the clinic may have (long wait times, understaffing, etc.)

Talk to the Clinic

Give the clinic a call. The telephone staff will be the first people that your employees will speak with in case of an injury that needs treatment, so they should be knowledgable and polite. Ask to speak to the clinic manager; if the clinic is interested in being your designated medical provider, they should be eager to answer any questions you have. Some questions you should make sure to ask are:

  • How many worker’s compensation cases have they treated in the past year? (A low number of cases could indicate that they do not have much experience)
  • Is there a dedicated person at the clinic to contact about any issues that may come up? (Having one person you can speak to directly about issues could help resolve them faster)
  • How long does it usually take to first be seen by a provider? (Injured workers should be seen within 24 hours of their injury)
  • How long do appointments typically last? (New patient appointments should take at least 30 minutes)
  • Is the clinic able to dispense medication in-office or do patients need to go to the pharmacy? (Overall costs can be higher at clinics that provide medication within their own clinic)
  • What other services does the clinic provide? (Drug/alcohol tests, pre-employment physicals, audio/vision screenings, etc.)

Ask to Take a Tour of the Clinic

Stopping by the clinic will give you a good grasp of what it will be like when you or an employee needs to visit there for an appointment. How easy is it to find the clinic? Do they have their own building, or do they share an office building with other businesses? What floor are they on? What is the parking situation like (small/large parking lot, paid parking, street parking only, etc.) and how close can you park to them? Knowing all of these things beforehand can make it much easier for your employees to find the clinic and get cared for quicker.

Also, how does the office look inside (clean clinic, comfortable waiting area, etc.) and what is the atmosphere like? How do the staff interact with patients? Staff should be friendly, but able to hold a private conversation with a patient about their injury/care at the front desk, for example.

Interview Potential Medical Providers at the Clinic

While at the clinic, take time to speak with some of their care providers (it’s a good idea to set up a time with them beforehand!) This will let you know about their experience and give you a good sense of whether they are a good choice to care for your employees. This will allow the provider to ask questions and get to understand your expectations and needs, and the face-to-face introduction will help to develop a better relationship between your business and theirs compared to only having a conversation on the phone.

Workers Compensation Resources
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COLORADO WORKERS COMPENSATION LAW:

  • https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/dwc
  • https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/employers-wc

At Colorado Occupational Medical Partners, our mission is to deliver the highest quality of occupational health care and physical rehabilitation to return patients to their highest level of function. Our team is dedicated to employers and patients, and we strive to develop strong, positive relationships with a culture based on safety, transparency, empathy, and trust. To find out more, find our location nearest to you.

Let Colorado Occupational Medical Partners be your source for occupational therapies and care in Colorado, contact us today.