Employee's Guide to Handling On-the-Job Injuries
What to Do if you are Injured at Work
- Notify your supervisor or employer
- Select a BWC-certified health care provider
- In an emergency, seek immediate care at any nearby medical facility
- University Hospitals CompCare will coordinate your course of treatment
Q. What is the first thing I should do when a work-related injury occurs?
A. For non-emergency injuries, you should immediately notify a supervisor, a workers' compensation representative at your company, or your employer.
Q. What is my next step?
A. You should then seek treatment from an Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)-certified health care provider, from the list in an easy-to-use, searchable format online at www.ohiobwc.com/provider/services/providerlookup/default.asp. Although you have the ultimate right to choose your own provider, we highly recommend that you select a health care provider from among University Hospitals CompCare's network of providers, all of whom are BWC-certified. This helps us ensure a consistent, high quality of care. For a complete list of our network providers, refer to our Provider Network Directory on file with your employer. No matter who the provider is, be sure to present your University Hospitals CompCare identification card on your first visit and at all follow-up visits. There are no co-payments or deductibles for workers who seek treatment for University Hospitals CompCare-authorized, BWC-allowed, work-related claims. However, workers who visit uncertified providers may be responsible for some or all of the costs.
Q. Who are University Hospitals CompCare's providers?
A. University Hospitals CompCare, an affiliate of University Hospitals Health System, has a network of more than 4,000 BWC-certified providers who regularly treat work-related injuries at 5,500 locations through-out Ohio. Providers include primary care physicians, occupational medicine specialists, orthopedic specialists, neurologists, rehabilitation medicine specialists, and other specialists, as well as ambulato-ry/urgent care centers, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.
Q. Can I choose a provider outside the University Hospitals CompCare network?
A. Yes. University Hospitals CompCare will manage your care even if you select a provider from outside our network. However, we strongly recommend you select a provider that is BWC-certified to avoid incurring out-of-pocket expenses. All of our network providers are BWC-certified.
Q. What if my injury requires emergency medical treatment?
A. You should proceed to the nearest, most appropriate medical facility, whether or not it is a member of the University Hospitals CompCare Provider Network. Be sure to present your University Hospitals CompCare identification card. The emergency provider must contact University Hospitals CompCare at 1-800-818-7273 within 24 hours to report your injury and medical status.
Q. Can I change providers after my initial visit?
A. Yes. However, we strongly recommend that you follow up with the first health care provider you see after your non-emergency injury. By remaining with your initial provider, you are most likely to experience a steady progression of treatment and a faster recovery. If you decide to change providers, you can either choose one from the University Hospitals CompCare network or seek care outside the network, as long as the provider is BWC-certified. To change providers, you must first call University Hospitals CompCare at 1-800-818-7273.
Q. What if I need to see a specialist or go to the hospital?
A. Your health care provider and your case manager will coordinate all your health care needs, including any additional medical attention you may require to make a full recovery.
Q. What should my employer do if I am injured at work?
A. Your employer should complete a BWC First Report of injury form. The form will include pertinent information regarding you, your employer, the nature of the incident and the treatment prescribed by the provider.
Q. What happens next?
A. Within 24 hours of the injury, your employer should fax the form to University Hospitals CompCare at 1-800-654-3849. University Hospitals CompCare will then gather all the necessary information and submit it to BWC. If you are unable to return to work immediately, the University Hospitals CompCare case manager will maintain steady contact among you, your employer and your provider to facilitate full recovery and return-to-work.
Q. Can University Hospitals CompCare disallow my claim?
A. No. Only the BWC is authorized to allow or deny claims. University Hospitals CompCare's role is to provide you with care and medical management of your work-related injury.>
Q. Will University Hospitals CompCare cover me even if I am injured when working outside of Ohio?
A. Yes. If your employment responsibilities take you outside of Ohio or even outside the country and you are injured on the job, you should seek treatment from an appropriate medical provider and follow the procedures outlined in this booklet. University Hospitals CompCare will manage your case and reimburse your providers for MCO-authorized, BWC-allowed, work-related claims.
Q. How do I gain access to services and information provided by University Hospitals CompCare?
A. If you have an active claim, your first point of contact should be our customer service line at 1-800-818-7273. You can also visit our redesigned, full-service Web site, www.universitycompcare.com, to access a wide range of data and information, including your claims data in a secure, password-protected database. The service is free and you can sign up for a password online. The Employee Information portal includes BWC forms, a Library of Resources and useful Web links.
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