According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), roughly 2.7 million private industry employees had suffered nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in 2020 alone. This sheer prevalence goes to show that despite employers’ strict adherence to the guidelines mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), injuries can still occur in the workplace and can affect even the best-prepared or most cautious employees.
There’s definitely no telling when workplace injuries happen, so it’s imperative that you know what to do when they happen. Your safest course of action is to visit an orthopedic clinic that delivers first-rate, comprehensive care for work-related injuries like ours here at Watauga Orthopaedics in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, Tennessee.
Below are four great reasons you should visit one of our locations when you get injured on the job.
Our Orthopedic Doctors Are Highly Equipped to Handle Even the Most Complex Injuries
Our orthopedic specialists deliver superior treatment outcomes for the gamut of work-related injuries covered by workers’ compensation insurance—from simple to complex. Such expertise stems from their years of experience covering two level 1 trauma centers in the Tri-Cities. A level 1 trauma center is a facility that accommodates patients with all types of fractures and traumatic injuries.
Our orthopedic doctors specialize in the treatment of complex fractures of the arm, hand, wrist, hip, thighbone (femur), and lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) as well as in post-traumatic reconstruction. This only means one thing: you couldn’t be in safer hands.
We Have a Dedicated Urgent Care Unit
When you have a work-related injury, time is of the essence. Waiting for your symptoms to get “bad enough” can put yourself at risk for potentially serious complications, which can leave you permanently disabled and ultimately hurt your earning capacity. Even if you feel alright or if your symptoms seem minor, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Moreover, postponing your workers’ compensation claim can jeopardize its eligibility and can lead to a forfeiture of your rights to your own benefits.
Here at Watauga Orthopaedics, we have a dedicated walk-in clinic where injured workers can receive unrivalled care when they need it. As the term “walk-in clinic” implies, there’s no appointment necessary. We strive to get you seen and treated right away and guide you through the entire process of filing a workers’ comp claim.
We Offer Top-Notch Physical Therapy Care on Site
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive care for the people in the communities we are privileged to serve, we offer a wide range of ancillary services, so our patients can have everything taken care of in one location.
One of these ancillary services is physical therapy, through which we design individualized programs that incorporate specific exercises, stretches, techniques, and therapeutic modalities that are all geared toward helping patients safely and successfully bounce back from their injuries.
Our Workers’ Compensation Services Are Comprehensive and Efficient
Our entire team here at Watauga Orthopaedics recognizes the value of a healthy, fully functional, and stable workforce. Through our workers’ compensation services, our orthopedic specialists and physical therapists work hand in hand to provide top-notch, personalized, and comprehensive care for injured workers.
In addition to the prompt evaluation and treatment we provide, we develop return-to-work programs, perform functional capacity evaluations (FCE) and independent medical evaluations (IME), ensure timely response to referring physicians, among other workers’ comp-related services.
We also have a dedicated liaison officer who works closely with all parties involved—the insurer, employer, and case manager—to keep them apprised of the worker’s treatment, recovery progress, and return-to-work status.
To learn more about our workers’ comp services or to schedule your visit, contact us at (423) 282-9011 or fill out our appointment request form. For immediate treatment for a work-related injury, visit us anytime during our business hours. We are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
