What to Expect During and After Your Workers' Compensation Evaluation

Many people aren’t aware of when or why they can qualify for workers’ compensation, much less how to take advantage of it. However, if you’re injured on the job in Tennessee, a worker’s comp claim can support you while you recover.

At Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (AOSM), with locations in Union City and Dyersburg, Tennessee, Dr. Michael Calfee, Paxton Sisson PA-C, and the rest of our skilled team handle workers’ compensation-related injuries and can help you work through the system to resolve your care.

Workers’ compensation overview

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance designed to provide employees with recourse in the event they become sick or injured as a result of their work. The money comes from a central fund that employers contribute to, not you. 

If you need medical care because of something that happened at work, you can file a claim. The payments don’t depend on who’s at fault, so who’s responsible for the injury or illness is not the concern. As long as you were sober and not intentionally causing harm to yourself or others, you’re eligible for workers’ comp. 

When to file a claim

If you sustain an injury or become ill as a result of work, you need to file a formal account of the incident with your employer. Then you can contact an authorized workers’ compensation doctor. In Tennessee, your employer will provide a medical panel of doctors to choose from.

We’ll likely be on that list if you live in the area of one of our offices. At AOSM, we offer same-day appointments for acute injuries and can help with the workers’ comp filing process in the state of Tennessee. 

What to expect during your evaluation

Once you’ve filed a report and booked an appointment, our team begins by evaluating your condition. The team has experience with a range of workplace injuries, some of the most common being: 

• Bone fractures
• Ligament or tendon tears
• Joint injuries
• Back injuries (like a slipped disc)
• Repetitive use injuries (like carpal tunnel syndrome)

We evaluate your injury using physical examinations as well as any diagnostic tests that may be required to determine the extent of your injury. This could include having X-rays or an MRI.

After your evaluation

After your evaluation, we recommend any needed treatment based on the type and severity of your injury. If you’ve broken a bone, it will need to be set and immobilized. Damage to soft tissue may be treated using braces, bedrest, and physical therapy. 

Some fractures or soft-tissue tears might be severe enough to warrant surgery. The surgical team at AOSM provides reconstructive surgery to repair or rebuild damaged joints, easing pain and restoring functionality.

Once all treatment has been completed and you’ve recovered as much as possible, your workers’ compensation benefits will end. You, your doctor, and your employer will cooperate to create a back-to-work plan for you.

Have you suffered an injury or illness at work? Make sure you’ve filed a formal statement, and get in touch with the team at AOSM by calling the location closest to you, or book an appointment online.