Mentioning Worker's Compensation to a patient?!

[emtgirl24]

Hi you all,
I am relatively new to SoCal EMT work, is it considered a "no no" to mention that a patient may be able to go through worker's compensation for their injury? I got chewed out by the boss of the event i was working at for mentioning it, but as I know from my full-time job and experience, if you do go through worker's compensation, typically there are specific doctor's that you are suppose to see in a non-emergency situation.

 

[rescue99]

Hi you all,
I am relatively new to SoCal EMT work, is it considered a "no no" to mention that a patient may be able to go through worker's compensation for their injury? I got chewed out by the boss of the event i was working at for mentioning it, but as I know from my full-time job and experience, if you do go through worker's compensation, typically there are specific doctor's that you are suppose to see in a non-emergency situation.

Workers comp is workers comp. Get injured on the job, comp foots the bill. Unfortuantely, low-life employers frown upon its use.

 

[akflightmedic]

Hi you all,
I am relatively new to SoCal EMT work, is it considered a "no no" to mention that a patient may be able to go through worker's compensation for their injury? I got chewed out by the boss of the event i was working at for mentioning it, but as I know from my full-time job and experience, if you do go through worker's compensation, typically there are specific doctor's that you are suppose to see in a non-emergency situation.

Worker's comp protects the employee should they sustain an on the job injury.

Low life employer's hate for it to be used because it costs them money, usually in the form of higher premiums if enough injuries occur and involves tons of paperwork. Plus, it forces them to grant you (the employee) certain rights and protections if the accident did occur while in the performance of your job.

Now, I am assuming these facts from the information you posted so if they are inaccurate, please let us know.

Here is why your boss may have been upset.

1. If you are working for a PRIVATE company doing an EMS standby, your CLIENT (boss) is the event organizers which hired you/your company.

2. If one of the event employees is injured on that job, it is your responsibility to treat their injuries not give them legal advice. As an employee they should know their rights.

3. Your employer (ambo/EMS company) is dependent upon it's client (the event) for revenue. If the client gets wind that the medical people they hired are informing the injured of their legal rights (which is non EMS function), they will fire the company providing the EMS service (your boss/your job).

Now from a management perspective, does it all make sense to you now why your boss was upset when you informed your patient of their legal rights instead of simply treating them for their injury?

In short, you are biting the hand which feeds you...it is up to you to determine where your morals/ethics guide you if you feel so inclined to dispense advice in the future.

There is NOTHING wrong with simply treating the patient and not advising
them of anything other than offering transport.

 

[emtgirl24]

Absolutely

Totally understandable. I am a compassionate person and care for the person medically and as a whole so that's why i mentioned it in the first place to the person (perhaps to put his mind at ease) that WC would probably be taking care of it. I hear ya totally on this, hope they don't fire the private company i work for now.

 

[rescue99]

Totally understandable. I am a compassionate person and care for the person medically and as a whole so that's why i mentioned it in the first place to the person (perhaps to put his mind at ease) that WC would probably be taking care of it. I hear ya totally on this, hope they don't fire the private company i work for now.

You should always redirect the employee back to his/her employer regarding policy. Keep in simple and let those in charge provide any details needed. "I don't know the answer", is always a safe answer. Really, you don't so it is also an honest answer.

 

[firecoins]

2. If one of the event employees is injured on that job, it is your responsibility to treat their injuries not give them legal advice. As an employee they should know their rights.

You shouldn't be giving any legal advice. That is what lawyers are for! An employee should consult an attorney.

 

[medichopeful]

I know you were just acting in the patient's best interest, but you should definitely not give legal advice or talk about worker's comp. What if you were wrong?

 

[firetender]

is it considered a "no no" to mention that a patient may be able to go through worker's compensation for their injury?

I don't really get that mentioning the possible availability of Workman's Comp. is providing legal advice.

Workman's Comp. assures that people injured on the job are covered by their employer. You do not sue the company. You file a claim, just like you would with your (no fault) insurance company after getting into a fender-bender.

In fact, it is EVERY employee's responsibility to fill out some form of a Work Injury Report when injured, no matter how slight. Explaining this is something that the Employer is mandated to do. Therefore, following earlier logic, that means as an Agent of the Employer you are helping to keep him/her in compliance.

Now in practice, of course, there are tightwads who avoid such claims like the plague, but, and this is probably legal advice, YOU can't be put on the hook for informing someone of the possibility of utilizing the system.

"may be able" are the operative words here. Nothing wrong with that.