Episode 4: On today’s episode, KPA’s Kurt Reibling is joined by Kentucky workers’ compensation attorney Ched Jennings of the Jennings Law Offices, in Louisville. They discuss how KPA works with injured workers and their attorneys on workers’ comp claims.
Medical Records
KPA has a medical team providing treatment to patients and they document the treatment and related issues to create important medical records for the patient and his/her attorney. The success of workers’ compensation claim is based on the availability and thoroughness of the medical records.
The Jennings Law Offices is one of the largest Kentucky workers’ compensation firms, in terms of the number of cases it handles. Ched discusses how he values the way KPA produces these medical records. Various parties may need to review the records during the claims process and the determination of benefits. He comments on how KPA spends the time to fully document the extent of the injury and the course of treatments performed.
Ched explains the information in the medical records is important for both acute traumatic injuries and cumulative, repetitive trauma injuries. It’s vital that the injured worker fully describe how the injury occurred. The details matter.
The common goal for the injured worker, the doctors and the employer is to get the individual working again. Medical treatment plays an important role in the achievement of this goal, whenever possible. The extent and detail of the medical records in capturing the relevant information is important.
In Episode 3, KPA’s Medical Director, Dr. Jason Lewis, noted the credibility of having an MD involved in the treatment and documentation. Ched agrees with that observation. The adjusters and the judge are going to have a more authoritative resource (“evidence”) if they have commentary from an actual doctor, in addition to a physical therapist and/or chiropractor.
KPA works seamlessly with the attorney. They coordinate the medical treatment, referrals to other healthcare providers and communication with the attorney on injured worker’s status. KPA can provide medical devices and braces. They have a dispensary for medication, including pain patches and other medications (both opioid and non-opioid options).
Dealing with Various Work-related Injuries
Ched believes he’s seen just about every type of injury over his 45 years of practice. He discusses the distinction between a single even injury and one resulting from cumulative trauma (“repetitive use”). When it comes to treating the various injuries, it’s important for the doctor to understand the extent of the injury, the limitations and how to best help the worker to recover.
The work environment has become safer over the years. However, people still sustain injuries. Repetitive injuries can often be wrongly interpreted as part of the aging process. That’s not always the case.
Head trauma and brain trauma is also a risk in the workplace. Kurt briefly discusses the traumatic brain injury diagnostic capability KPA now offers. We covered this extensively in Episode 2. KPA, in conjunction with MedTrak Diagnostics, can provide objective proof of a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), a medical explanation of the injury, a rehab plan to help the injured worker and a cost of medical treatment.
Ched explains that many doctors may fail to diagnose brain trauma, accurately. He recommends that the client continue to discuss the symptoms he/she is experiencing. In some cases, it may be the family members or spouse who can better describe it. Sometimes the injured person is less aware of how the symptoms show up on a day-to-day basis.
Opioid and Non-Opioid Treatment
Kurt recommends an injured worker consider physical therapy, chiropractic and other types of therapies before moving forward with opioid mediations. KPA takes a very conservative approach and can provide other types of treatments and non-opioid options for patients. These non-opioid alternatives can be effective in managing the pain.
KPA offers interventional pain management options to treat pain. These can include steroid injections to reduce inflammation. Many of their clients are able to move forward using these options, without the need to consider opioid medications.
KPA works very closely with the attorneys handling the legal aspects of the injury, but KPA also works with the other medical providers such as chiropractors, physical therapist and various surgeons.
We conclude today’s episode with Ched’s general observations about the Kentucky workers’ compensation system and employers.
If you’d like to contact Ched Jennings for a workers’ compensation claim:
Website: https://www.jenningslawoffices.com/
Phone: (502) 583-3882
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