When you are injured at work, and you are missing time due to your work injury, the insurance carrier may send you what they call a QRC. This is a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant that is registered and licensed with the Department of Labor and Industry. (DLI) Although every QRC is viewed as “neutral” and “objective” you have the right to choose your own QRC to navigate the worker’s compensation system and process. As you can imagine, not all QRCs operate with the same set of principals in mind, and our goal is to be sure that you understand the results of your choices, including the choice of physician. Our goal is to keep you fully informed, educate you about the worker’s compensation process, and put you in a position where you can make the best, informed decisions for you and your family.
What Does a QRC Do?:
While a QRC is responsible for reviewing the “Rights and Responsibilities” of the injured worker, most of our time is spent coordinating medical care and treatment, meeting with your doctor to discuss the treatment plan and safe work parameters for any return to work effort, and to explain your injury and restrictions to the insurance company and your employer. Every email that we send, and communication that you receive are shared with you throughout the process so that you are fully informed. Having full information throughout the process will help you make the best decisions possible during your recovery.
Your Right to Choose Your Own QRC:
Most injured workers do not realise that they have the right to choose their own QRC, even if the initial QRC was assigned by the insurance company. There are limitations, and if a QRC is assigned by the insurance company, you generally have 60 days after meeting that QRC to choose your own consultant. This is an absolute right to choose your own QRC irrespective of the initial assignment of a QRC by the insurance company. There are statutory limitations, depending on the filing of specific forms such as an R-2 Rehabilitation Plan and we can discuss your right to choose your own QRC when you contact our office.
How Your Choice of QRC Can Impact Your Decisions:
An experienced QRC can make sure that you have full information about the laws that impact your return to work, your treatment plan, and the provision of statutory rehabilitation services. Statutory rehabilitation services generally means a plan of rehabilitation that is written, and filed with DLI. The work of PAR, Inc. is client centered, which means that communication with you and keeping you up to date on all communications is our priority. Open and honest communication helps protect you in your return to work effort, and to make sure that you have a well structured medical treatment plan and return to work.
