The Accident:
It happened on a day just like any other. There were no outward
indications that something was wrong with the machine or with Bill. Bill
had been working at the station for along time and knew what he was doing.
Then without warning, the machine with which he was working fell over on
top of him. Bill's co-workers found him lying on the floor, bleeding and
immobilized with pain.
The Worker:
Bill was immediately admitted to the hospital where a group of
specialists took excellent care of him. After a short time, the outer
signs of the accident disappeared. It seemed that he would be able to
return to work again soon.
He couldn't. Discomfort, pain, fear and the feeling that somehow he might be guilty for the accident kept Bill from returning to his shift. His family couldn't help him. They wanted him back at work. They needed him back at work. They suffered as much as Bill did.
The Employer:
The company for which Bill worked had a good compensation plan and Bill
had always been a good, hard-working employee. Bill's inability to go back
to work troubled the company, too. Had they lost a valuable memeber of
their work force, or could he still handle his job? Should they replace
him? Should they compensate him? Did they have to compensate him? Was the
accident his fault?
The Lawyers:
As in other accidents of this type, the lawyers came into the picture.
Their difficult job is to make the law understood and to work for either
party. They saw that something was missing in Bill's case and that more
than a settlement was needed to help Bill and the company.
Of vital importance to the client and advocate goal of his attorney is to obtain the best return to work plan and compensation possible. Bill is not sure if he can do the same job and is wondering about modifications. He would prefer retraining or even additional education if it would mean vocational and economic security.
The Physician
The company was represented by their own physician and Bill had been
seeing his own family doctor and primary care doctor for years. Bill
desperately wanted to return to work but felt he still was not ready.
Bill wanted his physical condition to be at the same level as before his injury, even that meant additional medical assessment or intervention. Bill had choices and wanted to make the best possible choice to benefit his own recovery. Confused with whom to turn next, Bill thought, "should I should see the company doctor, my own Doctor, a neurologist, orthopedic specialist, or chiropractor". He was confused as to what to do?
The Insurance Company:
The insurance carrier was contacted. They assigned a Rehabilitation
Consultant to the file. The company was given the opportunity to accept
an assigned consultant or choose their own. The Claims Representative
working on their file knew that a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant
would provide professional support and knowledge to reach a cost-effective
solution for Bill and his employer.
Psychology and Rehabilitation Services:
Bill, his employer, the physicians, the lawyers and the insurance
company had different views of the file and everyone had legitimate
reasons for their opinions. They needed help to coordinate efforts and
to resolve issues which could cost one party a job and ther other a lot
of money.
As a Rehabilitation Consultant, Nathaniel Stewart, Jr. can help. Psychology and Rehabilitation Services work with the following parties:
- Employee And Family to develop and modify a plan for suitable and gainful employment, as well as to monitor medical and physical improvements.
- Employer to assess job and/or job modifications.
- Physicians to obtain medical records, work release, restrictions, and on-site-analysis approval, as well as to understand patient limitations.
- Attorneys to develop and modify plans and to assist in issue resolution when applicable.
- Claims Adjuster to develop and modify plans and reduce project costs.
- New Employer to direct placement, on the job training (OJT), and administer retraining.