Should I get a copy of my medical records after a work injury? After a work injury, seek medical care immediately, document everything that happened at the incident and during the medical care, and then request a copy of your medical records.
Documenting your records can help a Las Vegas workers’ compensation lawyer demonstrate your losses later and protect critical evidence should you need it.
Why Medical Records Are Critical in Your Claim Process
Your doctor creates a record for your care at the time of providing care to you. These records are critical because they are filled with valuable information about your injuries and potentially what caused them.
The most important reason to keep these records is to understand what your doctor believes is happening with you, beyond the spoken words they provide during the appointment. There are numerous factors that demonstrate why you need these records:
- You want to know what the doctor is saying about you
- You need to know what the records say about your subjective symptoms (what you are complaining of)
- You need to understand the objective diagnoses
- Sometimes, medical records may reveal information about outside forces attempting to steer the doctor’s opinion in a particular direction
- The records also may reveal errors about your injury, which would otherwise go unnoticed if you did not look at the records
- The records may reveal a more detailed description of the physical examination you received and what the overall prognosis is
If you are not represented by an attorney, you may never know any of this information. Our workers’ compensation lawyer will always work to gather all medical documentation available, including from each one of your doctors and any appointments you have, even if it is through numerous health care facilities. We need and expect to gain valuable information from all records.
It Is Your Legal Right to Receive Your Medical Records
Under Nev. Admin. Code § 616C.120, the injured worker has the right to inspect or obtain their health care records. This law allows the patient to request copies of records from any health care provider. This also includes any therapist you may have seen.
If any medical provider refuses to give you records and directs you to the insurance company, they are wrong. However, the medical provider may charge you a per-page copy fee. If you are represented by an attorney, the attorney will pay for it.
When you work with our workers’ compensation attorney, we will make sure that you understand all of your rights and that all medical providers treat you fairly throughout this process. In every situation, our objective is to seek to protect your rights. If you have any difficulty getting your medical records, reach out to us to handle the legal process instead.
Understanding the Physician Progress Report
In addition to the medical records, you will likely be provided with a Physician Progress Report (PPR) that will give a treatment plan, a very brief diagnosis, as well as any temporary or permanent work restrictions you may have that are due to the work injury. This is an important document because it outlines your rights regarding taking time off work. You can request a copy of this report from the provider.
The PPR will also provide you with the date of the next visit. Make sure you understand what the doctor wants you to do to get the care that you need to recover fully.
That means going to all your follow-up appointments and completing the type and level of treatment they recommend. That shows you are doing everything you can to heal and get back to work.
Communicate with Your Attorney
If you are represented by an attorney, it is imperative that you provide your attorney with a copy of the PPR, as this is often the only way the attorney will know what the doctor has recommended. Medical providers do not provide these things directly to your attorney! This is a common misconception when injured workers hire an attorney.
When you hire our workers’ compensation attorney, we begin working on your case right away. We will tell you what information we need and help you obtain all the documentation that is necessary and beneficial to your case. We strongly recommend that you follow all medical guidance given to you, but not to wait to contact our attorney. Do so immediately.
Remember that you have the legal right to medical documentation, but that does not mean the insurance company will provide it. They are not there to support you in recovering but rather to limit how much time you take off and any losses they pay out. By hiring a workers’ compensation attorney in Nevada, you can better protect your rights in these challenging cases.
When to Hire an Attorney in a Work Injury
It is nearly always a good idea to hire an attorney if you have serious injuries, especially if they carry long-term implications to your health, ability to work and earn a living, or quality of life. We also recommend speaking to an attorney if the insurance company denies your claim or requests information that you do not have.
Do not overlook the importance of hiring an attorney from our firm if you are facing any disputes over the information in your medical report. Do not assume busy doctors in an emergency room will get everything right.
You also do not want to overlook critical information that impacts your ability to recover damages owed to you. We are here to help. Contact us to help you get the resources you need for your case. We are here to work for you. Use our personal injury settlement calculator to estimate the potential value of your case.
Set Up Some Time to Speak to Our Work Injury Lawyer in Nevada Now
As always, it is advised that you seek an experienced Las Vegas workers’ compensation lawyer who is able to assist in obtaining all of the benefits that you are entitled to under Nevada law.
Contact Shook & Stone now for a consultation to go over your rights in these cases.
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