by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

Being injured on the job can be an employee’s worst nightmare.

Not only does an injured worker worry about immediate, quality care, but the worries of lost time, recovery and income become the bigger monsters of a worker's anxiety.

For MUSC employees, the path to proper care and compensation doesn’t need to be a solitary experience.

“Everyone thinks that workers’ comp is out to get them,” said Nancy Sifford, manager of workers’ compensation, University Risk Management. “We’ve made a concentrated effort to change that attitude by providing help and assistance to employees who need workers’ comp.”

Sifford and her colleagues provides support for workers’ compensation cases. The office surveys work-related injuries from severe hand cuts, needle sticks, burns, neck, back injuries to other occupational safety exposures affecting an individual’s work performance. The staff processes and manages work compensation claims, acts as liaison coordinating claimant, managers, health care providers, attorneys and insurance carriers, provides workers comp information and resources and schedules physician appointments.

“People need to realize that workers’ compensation is not automatic,” Sifford said. “There are criteria that need to be met, and things that need to be in place from the completion of the first injury report (ACORD form) to time-loss reports, physician’s reports, etc.”

Like most people, employee Curtis Hodnett was unaware of workers’ compensation when he injured his arm at work almost a year ago. An electrician with the physical plant, Hodnett was opening a door and tore his left tendon from the elbow. Immediately, Hodnett was sent by his supervisor to visit employee health services and the workers’ compensation office.

“At first, I was shocked when I learned I was being compensated for getting hurt,” Hodnett said. “I kept thinking, ‘this isn’t worker’s comp’s fault. It was my fault.’ I was in an accident that happened to occur on the job,” he said with a shrug. “All I knew was that I wanted to get back to work.”

Following a medical evaluation, Hodnett was scheduled for a Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) which resulted in selecting two choices of care: physical therapy or surgery. Hodnett tried the therapy, which didn’t improve things. He was authorized by workers’ comp to seek a second opinion and opted for surgery with former Carolina Family Care orthopedist John Eady, M.D.

“I was very fortunate to be able to get a good doctor (Eady),” Hodnett said. During his six to eight week recovery period, Hodnett received a weekly workers’ compensation check for 66 and 2/3 percent of his normal salary from the state accident fund. In late summer, Hodnett returned to work on light duty for six to eight weeks. Later, Hodnett was cleared by Eady in a follow-up evaluation which returned him to a full-time work status.

Hodnett’s positive experience with Sifford and Debbie Wagner, administrative assistant in the workers’ compensation office, emphasized awareness and support. The office is poised to provide a guiding hand by helping claimants understand their state rights and the compensation process. “When people are hurt and injured, they don’t want to mess with all the extra work,” said Hodnett.

Research nurse Susan McGauley was equally grateful following her accident in June 1998. Working at the Institute of Psychiatry’s Weight Management Center, McGauley suffered wrist fractures after accidently falling from a chair last June. Her immediate response of filing an accident report and visit to employee health services resulted in a quick action for proper medical care.

“Timing is very important,” emphasized Sifford. “It’s important to report an injury immediately so that we can document the injury. We’ve learned that people who are hurt at work and don’t always report the injury to the supervisor or manager promptly.”

Unlike Hodnett’s case, McGauley injured her dominant hand and was placed in a long arm cast— having no use of her thumb or right hand for 37 days. Following successful convalescence at home and with the approval of her physician and work supervisor, McGauley returned to full-time work receiving her full salary. Her only challenge was transportation. McGauley drives a stick shift automobile, requiring her to shift gears with her right hand. With Sifford’s help, a special account was coordinated with a local cab company to provide McGauley with weekly transportation to work, scheduled physician’s visits and therapy appointments. McGauley’s claim remains open until she is released by her physician and attends a final hearing with a representative from the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commission.

“I felt very lucky,” said McGauley responding to the quality of care and support she received after the accident. “I can’t stress the importance of patients being their own advocates. The lines of communication must always be open.”

The nation’s first workers’ compensation laws were established in 1911. It was designed to compensate employees for work-related injuries, illness and disease. In South Carolina, these laws were enforced by the South Carolina Industrial Commission in 1935. Over the years, the original law has been amended, defined and altered. Today, the laws are governed by the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission.

“I know we can’t fix all problems,” Sifford said, “but when the injured employee needs workers’ comp, we do our best to resolve the situation.” Sifford hopes to continue in employee awareness by posting general workers’ compensation information, the injury report (ACORD) form and related info on the university risk management website.

For more information on workers’ compensation program, visit the website at <http://wren.musc.edu/docs2/safety.html>.

MUSC Workers’ Comp Office, 158 Rutledge Avenue

• Provides a service to MUSC Medical Center and University employees who sustain an on-the-job injury or occupational exposure.
• Opens work compensation claims for MUSC employees injured on the job
• Acts as liaison between claimant, managers, health care providers, attorneys and insurance carrier for workers’ compensation cases.
• Manages claims until closure. Acts as MUSC representative for informal conferences/hearings.
• Assists managers with work restrictions for claimants.
• Addresses Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues pertinent to claims (in conjunction with Human Resources).
• Provides data for MUSC’s Environment of Care Committee and its subcommittees.
• Contracts for Employee Health Services (WorkMed Carolina), including billing Medical Center/University for those services.