It is the responsibility of the worker to notify the practitioner when the worker has reason to believe his injury or condition is industrial in nature. Conversely, if the attending doctor discovers a condition which he believes to be work related or has reason to believe an injury is work related, he must so notify the worker. Once such determination is made by either the claimant or the attending doctor, a report of accident must be filed.
Failure to comply with this responsibility can result in penalties as outlined in RCW
51.48.060.
It is the practitioner's responsibility to ascertain whether he is the first attending practitioner. If so, he will take the following action:
(1) Give emergency treatment.
(2) Immediately complete and forward the report of accident, to the department and the employer or self-insurer. Instruct and give assistance to the injured worker in completing his portion of the report of accident. In filing a claim, the following information is necessary so there is no delay in adjudication of the claim or payment of compensation.
(a) Complete history of the industrial accident or exposure.
(b) Complete listing of positive physical findings.
(c) Specific diagnosis with ICD-9-CM code(s) and narrative definition relating to the injury.
(d) Type of treatment rendered.
(e) Known medical, emotional or social conditions which may influence recovery or cause complications.
(f) Estimate time loss due to the injury.
(3) If the patient remains under his care continue with necessary treatment in accordance with medical aid rules. If the practitioner is
not the original attending doctor, he should question the injured worker to determine whether a report of accident has been filed for the injury or condition. If no report of accident has been filed, it should be completed immediately and forwarded to the department or self-insurer, as the case may be, with information as to the name and address of original practitioner if known, so that he/she may be contacted for information if necessary.
If a report of accident has been filed, it is necessary to have the worker complete a request for transfer as outlined in WAC
296-20-065, if the worker and practitioner agree that a change in attending doctor is desirable.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030, and Title 51 RCW. 08-24-047, § 296-20-025, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/26/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020(4) and51.04.030 . 86-06-032 (Order 86-19), § 296-20-025, filed 2/28/86, effective 4/1/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020(4), 51.04.030, and 51.16.120(3). 81-01-100 (Order 80-29), § 296-20-025, filed 12/23/80, effective 3/1/81; Order 71-6, § 296-20-025, filed 6/1/71; Order 70-12, § 296-20-025, filed 12/1/70, effective 1/1/71; Order 68-7, § 296-20-025, filed 11/27/68, effective 1/1/69.]