{"id":1263,"date":"2015-05-27T21:49:06","date_gmt":"2015-05-27T21:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2015-05-27T21:49:06","modified_gmt":"2015-05-27T21:49:06","slug":"physician-progress-report-get-one-every-doctor-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/2015\/05\/articles\/information-center\/physician-progress-report-get-one-every-doctor-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Physician Progress Report: Get one every doctor visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"medical<\/a>Following every visit to your authorized treating doctor, be sure to ask the doctor or his assistant for a copy of the doctor\u2019s physician progress report.\u00a0 There is a DIR-approved form<\/a> that most doctors use, although some have modified the form to include their office address, phone number, and have slightly different boxes for slightly different information.\u00a0 The physician progress report is sent by the doctor\u2019s office to your adjuster following each visit and tells the adjuster what further treatment is planned, what the work restrictions are for the next month, or whether the doctor has taken you off work completely.\u00a0 This form also tells the adjuster-and you, if you make sure you get a copy-whether the doctor has released you from care, and if so, whether the doctor thinks you have a ratable impairment.\u00a0 The last PPR also should state whether you are released full duty or have permanent work restrictions.\u00a0 If the doctor writes nothing in the box for the date of your next office visit, or writes PRN (meaning, \u201cas needed\u201d), it means that the doctor has released you from his or her care, and that the adjuster will then be closing your claim for medical benefits.<\/p>\n

As some doctors aren\u2019t straightforward with their workers\u2019 compensation patients, and avoid potential arguments with the patient by not telling them they are released form care full duty, it is essential that\u00a0you get and read the PPR after every visit and before you leave the doctor\u2019s office.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to find out only when you don\u2019t receive your next compensation check that the doctor actually released you full duty at your last visit and never bothered to tell you that during your appointment.\u00a0 You also want an opportunity while you are still at the doctor\u2019s office to have a discussion why the doctor doesn\u2019t think you have a ratable impairment when you still can\u2019t lift your arm above your head months after your shoulder surgery. Likewise, you might want to tell the doctor that while he has given you restrictions on the amount of lifting you can do at work, he hasn\u2019t given you any restrictions on standing or walking, and your employer has you on your feet all day.<\/p>\n

Remember that workers\u2019 compensation doctors in Nevada on insurers\u2019 exclusive provider lists are under a great deal of pressure to return injured workers to light duty employment, and they take patients off work completely for the least amount of time. The key to the injured worker being able to perform in a light duty job is for the injured worker to fully discuss with the doctor what the light duty work restrictions should be each month.\u00a0 Also remember that if the doctor gives you so many restrictions that your employer cannot find temporary light duty work for you, you will be entitled to payment of compensation benefits while you are off work.<\/p>\n

You also want a copy of the PPR to give to your employer so that your employer is aware of your temporary or permanent work restrictions.\u00a0 Some doctors\u2019 offices that treat a lot of workers\u2019 compensation patients will send the PPR directly to your employer and to your adjuster, but you should also have your own copy.\u00a0 It is actually your responsibility under the law to inform your employer of your work restrictions, so you want to make an extra copy to give to your supervisor or designated workers\u2019 compensation coordinator at work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following every visit to your authorized treating doctor, be sure to ask the doctor or his assistant for a copy of the doctor\u2019s physician progress report.\u00a0 There is a DIR-approved form that most doctors use, although some have modified the form to include their office address, phone number, and have slightly different boxes for slightly … Continue reading Physician Progress Report: Get one every doctor visit<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,74,63],"tags":[321,530,345,531,503,507],"class_list":["post-1263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-information-center","category-medial-providers","category-temporary-total-disability-benefits","tag-medical-care","tag-nevada-injured-workers","tag-nevada-workers-compensation","tag-physician-progress-report","tag-work-restrictions","tag-workers-compensation"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1263"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1270,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263\/revisions\/1270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jhwlawoffice.com\/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}