1. what happened;
2. the time and date it happened;
3. the names of the witnesses;
4. the people involved;
5. what caused the accident;
6. all the injuries which resulted from the accident;
7. who the hurt worker’s supervisor was at the time;
8. what the supervisor told the injured employee as to medical treatment and job status;
9. medical instructions given by the doctor; and
10. the identity of all the doctors he has seen relating to the accident.

The judge will put a lot of emphasis on the initial reports of the accident.

Also, a sure fire way to mess up your case is to miss doctors appointments.  By doing this, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation will think that you do not need medical treatment and that you have no disability.  On the same token, the injured employee should not exaggerate, nor should he hide, the pain and limitations that has resulted from the work injury.  Again, I recommend keeping a journal or diary with the injured workers to document the type of pains he is having.  Many of my clients will say, “I forgot to tell the doctor about . . .”  It is best to come into the medical appointment prepared.

Furthermore, take down your social media pages.  Forget the facebook and twitter updates.  The insurance companies may have hired private investigators to see what you are up to and to see if they can twist your “status updates” into evidence against your case.  Be smart about what you post. . .

I am sure there are others but these seem to be on my mind.  If you have a question about your workers’ compensation injuries, please feel free to contact my firm for a free consultation.

Unfortunately, there is no Georgia rule or law mandating the insurance company to provide for direct deposit funding of workers’ compensation checks. However, we understand that some insurance companies do provide this option. At this point it is solely dependent upon the workers’ compensation carrier.

If you have any questions about your entitlement to income benefits because of your work injury, please contact the Ramos Law Firm at 404-355-3431.

According to Adriana Sola Capifali, the event chairperson and workers’ compensation associate at the Ramos Law Firm, the participation was “ten times that of prior events.” Through these efforts, she hopes to further the mission of “representing Hispanic workers and preventing any unfair exploitation.” The attorneys at the Ramos Law Firm have handled hundreds of claims including spinal cord injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee and shoulder pain, amputation injuries, and neurological trauma.

The Latin American Association helps Latino families achieve their aspirations for their academic, social and economic development. The Association accomplishes this through direct programs and integrated community partnerships that focus on youth academic achievement, education and prevention, and services to families with urgent needs.

For more information, please contact Adriana Sola Capifali at the Ramos Law Firm.

1. a Traditional Panel of Physicians;
2. a Conformed Panel of Physicians; or
3. a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization (WC/MCO).

The requirements regarding what types of medical professionals are listed, how many medical professionals or medical facilities are listed differ for each type of panel.

Although the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act has different requirements for each type of panel of physicians, the care provided to the injured worker receives remains consistent.

Quite frequently, employers utilize either a Traditional Panel of Physicians or a Conformed Panel of Physicians.  Since the WC/MCO is less frequently used by employers, very few individuals understand a WC/MCO Panel.  If an employer elects to contract with a WC/MCO to provide treatment for its injured employees, the employer must make sure the WC/MCO is certified by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 34-9-208 and the corresponding Board Rule.  The application process for certification of a WC/MCO is outlined in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-208.

The State Board of Workers’ Compensation has mandatory requirements for a WC/MCO Panel.  For example, a WC/MCO Panel must have minority providers and must have the following providers listed in their Panel:

1. internists,
2. family practice,
3. orthopedic surgeons,
4. neurologists,
5. general surgeons,
6. chiropractors,
7. physical and occupational therapists,
8. psychologists or psychiatrists,
9. diagnostic pathology or laboratory services,
10. radiology services and hospital,
11. outpatient surgery, and
12. emergency care services.

Please see Board Rule 208(a)(1)(e).

The State Board also requires certified WC/MCOs annually report an updated list of providers in their network, any sanctions taken against the WC/MCO or providers in its network, reported complaints and summary of dispute resolution proceedings.  A WC/MCO’s reporting requirements provide employers and its employees with information about the providers who are providing treatment, which ensures employees receive quality treatment.

No matter which panel is chosen, O.C.G.A. § 201 requires employers post the panel in a location that is visible to all employees.  If using a WC/MCO, employers must educate employees on how to seek medical treatment when injured on-the-job.

Although the WC/MCO is quite different from the Traditional or Conformed Panel of Physicians, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation requires that WC/MCOs are certified and monitors these panels in order to ensure medical treatment rendered to injured workers remains consistent.  If you have additional questions regarding WC/MCO panels, please contact the attorneys at the Ramos Law Firm.

The Ramos Law Firm attorneys annually attend the Institute. According to Bryan Ramos, “[t]he Committee did a fine job at organizing the seminars and I understand that the Institute raised a substantial amount of money for the Kids’ Chance Foundation, which benefits the children of catastrophically injured workers.”