WORK INJURIES
Care That Supports Recovery and Return to Work
Evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, documentation, and work-status coordination for Washington workers with appropriate musculoskeletal injuries.
As Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)–approved chiropractic providers, we can help with:
✓ Evaluation and treatment of work-related musculoskeletal injuries
✓ Chiropractic care, soft-tissue treatment, and rehabilitation when appropriate
✓ Documentation and communication regarding your recovery and work status
✓ Coordination with your employer, claim manager, and other healthcare providers when needed
✓ Progressing toward safe, sustainable return to work
Already have an L&I claim—or think your injury may be work-related?
Please contact the office before scheduling so we can collect the necessary claim and employer information.
NAVIGATING A WORK INJURY
Recovery Can Affect More Than Physical Comfort
A work injury may affect:
-
Job duties
-
Income
-
Sleep
-
Driving
-
Household activities
-
Exercise
-
Communication with an employer
-
Confidence with movement
Our goal is to understand the injury, its functional effects, and the demands required for a safe return to work.
Our doctors understand the documentation and communication requirements involved in Washington work-injury claims.
COMMON WORK-RELATED CONCERNS
We commonly evaluate:
-
Lifting injuries
-
Repetitive-use complaints
-
Neck and back injuries
-
Shoulder and upper-extremity complaints
-
Hip, knee, ankle, and foot complaints
-
Slip-and-fall injuries
-
Workplace vehicle incidents
-
Muscle strains and joint sprains
-
Difficulty performing required job activities
YOUR EVALUATION
Understanding Both the Injury and Your Job
Your evaluation may include:
-
Review of how the injury occurred
-
Review of job duties and physical demands
-
Medical and occupational history
-
Orthopedic and neurologic examination
-
Range-of-motion assessment
-
Functional evaluation
-
Discussion of work limitations
-
Determination of whether chiropractic care is appropriate
-
Referral for imaging or specialty care when indicated
-
Initial treatment when appropriate
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
Care Based on Your Injury and Work Demands
Depending on your examination, functional limitations, and job requirements, your treatment plan may combine hands-on care with rehabilitation and activity guidance.
Care may also include home-exercise recommendations, activity modification, periodic re-examinations, gradual progression toward work demands, and coordination with other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
RETURN-TO-WORK COORDINATION
When applicable, we may address:
-
Current work capacity
-
Temporary activity restrictions
-
Modified-duty options
-
Progress toward job demands
-
Barriers to recovery
-
Need for additional evaluation
-
Communication with authorized claim stakeholders
Work restrictions are based on clinical findings and functional limitations.
The goal of work-injury care is not simply to reduce symptoms. We also consider the physical demands of your job, functional limitations, and the steps needed to help you progress toward safe and sustainable work activity.
Dr. Stephen Chan serves as an approved chiropractic consultant for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and performs independent medical examinations (IMEs). This experience gives our office added familiarity with L&I documentation, treatment expectations, and return-to-work considerations.
WASHINGTON L&I AND SELF-INSURED CLAIMS
Work-injury cases may involve:
-
Claim forms
-
Work-status documentation
-
Progress reports
-
Consultations
-
Authorizations
-
Communication among several parties
Please contact the office if you have questions about:
-
Opening or transferring a claim
-
Claim numbers
-
Attending-provider status
-
Coverage or authorization
-
Required records
-
A previous claim decision