Orthopaedic Services

Workers’ Compensation

The physicians and staff at Commonwealth Orthopaedics provide medical and surgical management of work-related injuries. We are dedicated to providing early and accurate diagnosis and treatment to the injured worker. Our philosophy not only enables the injured worker to return safely to work, but it assists in keeping the cost of medical treatment and lost work time to a minimum. We look forward to partnering with the injured worker, employer and workers’ compensation insurance carrier to ensure the highest quality of care is provided.

Scheduling a Workers’ Compensation Appointment

Before you call to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, it is necessary that the accident has been reported to and authorized by your employer. In turn, your employer will either schedule the appointment for you or they will provide you with the name of a recommended physician or group of physicians that they have pre-approved to care for their injured workers. Your employer may also provide you with additional information that will be helpful to the scheduler when you are making your appointment.

To schedule a workers’ compensation appointment with one of our physicians:

1. Select a Commonwealth physician from your employers’ approved list or panel. Determine where that physician sees patients by reviewing our Commonwealth Physicians By Locations.
2. Call the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator (list is located on the right side of this page) from the appropriate office to schedule the appointment. Be prepared to provide the following information at the time of making the appointment:
   • Workers’ Compensation Claim #
   • Date of Injury
   • Employer Name, Address, Contact Name, Phone, Fax
   • Workers’ Compensation Insurance Carrier, Address, Adjuster Name, Phone, Fax
3. The Workers' Compensation Coordinator or scheduler may ask you to print a copy of the Workers' Compensation Intake Form . Print the form and complete it, with assistance from your employer as needed.
4. The Coordinator will either ask you to fax the Intake Form back to their office before your scheduled appointment or they may request that you bring the completed form with you to your first appointment.

What to Bring to the Workers’ Compensation Appointment

Please arrive 30 minutes before for your scheduled appointment time. This allows time to fill out necessary paperwork. You should bring the following to your appointment:

1. Workers’ Compensation Intake Form (preferred) OR the following information:
   • Workers’ Compensation Claim #
   • Date of Injury
   • Employer Name, Address, Contact Name, Phone, Fax
   • Workers’ Compensation Insurance Carrier, Address, Adjuster Name, Phone, Fax
2. Claim form from your employer (not all employers provide these)
3. Medical records and films if available

If you do not bring all of the requested information to your first appointment, you may be asked to fill out a self pay waiver or you may be asked to reschedule the appointment until the information is obtained.

Reporting Work Status to Employers

To assist in communicating work status back to employers in a timely fashion, our practice uses a Workers' Compensation Work Status Form. This form is used by our physicians for each workers’ compensation patient seen unless your employer (or the workers’ compensation insurance carrier) specifically requests their own form be used. If your employer/workers’ compensation insurance carrier has a specific form, please bring it with you the day of your appointment.

Related Services

Our physicians offer a multitude of experience in performing Second Opinions and Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) for injured workers. Please check with the appropriate Workers’ Compensation Coordinator to determine if a specific physician provides these services.

Commonwealth Orthopaedics offers a variety of other services that may assist the injured worker in getting back to work:

• Pain Management
• Physiatry
• Physical Therapy