Designated Medical Providers | Video

Juli McDonald | 3/23/2012

Suffering an injury on the job is unfortunate enough, but the process that follows can be almost as bad. Medcenter One Occupational Health aims to simplify the treatment and compensation process, through their Designated Medical Provider Service.

When someone is injured on the job at the Baptist Home, they don`t just head to their primary physician. Instead they`ll go to Medcenter One Occupational Health, to see their employer`s designated medical provider.

"We can work with you and your injuries. We will stay in communication with you. You want to find a DMP who will come to your business, get to know your business, and find out how we can best treat your injuries," said Peggy Hill, Medcenter One Return-to-Work Case Manager.

A designated medical provider stays in close contact with an employer throughout the employee`s treatment. They also have a more specialized knowledge of occupational injuries than perhaps a family medicine doctor would.

"Is it something that we need a new piece of equipment? Sometimes it`s as simple as changing a room around and that makes it much more convenient for staff members to work," said Deb Larson, Director of Quality Assurance at the Baptist Home.

A designated medical provider also puts effort into developing detailed plans for when the employee can return to work.

"We want to keep people at work, in some type of modified or alternative capacity. That will help employers with decreased time loss, decreased workman`s comp costs, decreased injuries. It`s just a win-win for everybody," Hill said.

"They`re happy and we`re happy, just simply because we have them in the building. It makes us feel good. We care. We really care," Larson said.

Larson says that in the late 90`s, they would have 147-170 employee injuries every year. Last year, there were only 33 cases. She credits that decrease to a good relationship with their designated medical provider. To learn more about Medcenter One Occupational health, visit their website MedcenterOne.com/OccHealth.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY