Workers, employers and claims payers expect physicians to make decisions and determinations about issues that are not part of a standard medical education and that physicians do not consider “medical.” As a result, many doctors feel uncomfortable answering questions about SAW/RTW and view them as administrative irritants. A pro-active posture, respect for the physician’s time pressures and professional priorities, and a collaborative approach can make a big difference in the quality and timeliness of the physician’s opinions.
Learning Outcomes
Describe the medical office assembly line and timeline of care
Explain why adjusting the timing of their requests for information to the doctor’s timeline of care will improve responsiveness
Package their requests for SAW/RTW information in a more physician-friendly format
Name three things they can do to make doctors feel more comfortable releasing patients promptly to SAW/RTW