“A rule allowing only MDs and DOs to serve as independent medical examiners in workers’ compensation cases has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
The provision, enacted as part of an August 2011 workers’ compensation law, prevented chiropractors, dentists, optometrists and others from acting as qualified examiners in such cases. It also prohibited them from testifying as experts in workers’ comp cases.”
To read more about this Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling, check out the American Medical News.
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Work Comp Case Managers: A Complex Role (vp-medical.com)
Five Recent Workers’ Comp Cases …

photo credit: Josh Liba
The most important role of the case manager is to advocate while educating. Case managers must advocate on the client’s behalf to get each client the right resources and the right care at the right time and by the right provider–all while considering the patient’s own resources and abilities. Clients need to understand the information they have been given and the implications for their future, while learning how to manage and navigate the landscape on their own. The workers compensation patient has an additional learning curve …

Many workers compensation injuries involve the musculoskeletal system.  Strains and sprains are common and sometimes result in longer claims than those who suffer fractures or tears which require surgical intervention.  The treating physicians will often use physical therapy or physiotherapy to develop, maintain, or restore the body’s normal motion.
Signs that physical therapy may be in order include:

decreased range of motion
pain
decreased strength
gait disturbances

When range of motion is limited, function of the limb or joint is decreased which in turn makes it difficult for one to perform tasks in a normal fashion.  …

Dr. Nathaniel Evans writes…”Of all work-related medical complaints, back pain is the complaint accounting for the greatest cost and is arguably the most mismanaged condition in occupational medicine.”  I have to agree and furthermore state that as a workers compensation case manager, it is one of the most difficult to manage.
There is evidenced based practice which indicates that various therapies, imaging studies and surgeries often ordered by physicians for regional back pain offer no benefit over anti-inflammatory medication and advice to continue activities as tolerated!
Dr. Evans provides some …