As the authorized treating physician how can I help the patient?

If you're a doctor treating a patient who is receiving benefits under the Iowa Workers' Compensation Act, then I'm here to help you by answering any questions you may have and in a confidential way. I'll answer your questions directly and then post them for other Iowa doctors to read and learn how to make your job easier and the system to run better. So if you are a physician or chiropractor contact the author with your questions about Iowa's Workers' Compensation law or practice by sending an email or calling me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. See also the Iowa Edict .
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

Probably the best advice I can give any doctor is put it in writing. If you have an opinion, put it in writing. One of the biggest time wasters in Iowa is getting the doctors opinions in writing. I'm referring to work releases, modified work releases, light duty releases, full releases, weight lifting restrictions, time restrictions, job duty restrictions or any other medical opinions that affect the employee. Many times the doctor tells the patient his/her opinions and then shoos the patient out of the office thinking that will take care of it; well it doesn't. Think of the grade school game where you line students up and pass a message down the line. Everyone hears a different story. And in workers' compensation it's even worse, because everyone expects the injured worker to not want to work, so whatever the employee tells the supervisor create confusion and usually the employee-patient will be sent back to the doctor to get it in writing. So doctors do us all a favor and put it in writing!

This is so easy to do I'm going to post it in the Q&A section under three different titles to make it that much more likely to be found and read.

Iowa Workers' Compensation

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney