Workers’ Compensation

In this time of high expectations and complex regulations, you need an expert partner you can trust to help manage all your workers’ compensation industrial health needs. At FORM Hand, Wrist & Elbow, we are experienced in treating industrial musculoskeletal injuries–we are caring, committed, and efficient.

We get patients in quickly, make the correct diagnosis, and initiate treatment quickly using evidence-based and best-practice guidelines. Return-to-work is targeted immediately, and all efforts are made to avoid missed time. We appreciate the importance of returning employees to modified or full-duty as soon as it is safe.

Excellent communication is maintained with adjusters and employers. Turnaround time on permanent and stationary reports is 24-48 hours. Dr. Besh is a member of many medical provider networks and has received letters of commendation for use of evidence-based guidelines from Zenith and Anthem, two large and complex entities.

Patients will not have to travel far to see us. With our convenient location in Fremont, we are easily accessible to Silicon Valley, Oakland, and the rest of the East Bay. We have flexible scheduling to meet the needs of all patients. While our office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, we are happy to see patients before work, as early as 7 am, and we do not close for lunch. Also, for urgent needs, we make every attempt to see the patient the same day so that emergency room visits can be minimized.

What is the first thing you should do if you are hurt on the job?

If you’re hurt on the job, you can file a workers’ compensation claim for your work-related injury. It’s important to report your work injury to your employer right away and to seek treatment as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Make sure your supervisor is notified of your injury as soon as possible. If your injury or illness developed gradually, report it as soon as you learn or believe it was caused by your job. Reporting promptly helps avoid problems and delays in receiving benefits, including medical care. If you don’t report your injury within 30 days, you could lose your right to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

What do you do if you need emergency treatment?

If it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away. Tell the medical staff that your injury or illness is work-related. If you can safely do so, contact your employer for further instructions.

If you don’t need emergency treatment, make sure you get first aid and see a doctor if necessary.

What happens after you file a workers’ compensation claim?

Once you file a claim, your employer is required to provide you with medical care.

What kind of medical care can you receive for your injury?

According to the Department of Industrial Relations in the State of California, doctors in California’s workers’ compensation system are required to provide evidence-based medical treatment. That means they must choose treatments scientifically proven to cure or relieve work-related injuries and illnesses. Those treatments are laid out in a set of guidelines that provide details on which treatments are effective for certain injuries, as well as how often the treatment should be given (frequency), the extent of the treatment (intensity), and for how long (duration), among other things.

To comply with the evidence-based medical treatment requirement, the state of California has adopted a medical treatment utilization schedule (MTUS). The MTUS includes specific body region guidelines adopted from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’s (ACOEM) Practice Guidelines, plus guidelines for acupuncture, chronic pain, and therapy after surgery. The DWC has a committee that continuously evaluates new medical evidence about treatments and incorporates that evidence into its guidelines.

To learn more about your rights for workers’ compensation in the state of California, click here.

How can FORM Hand, Wrist & Elbow help with a workers’ compensation claim?

At FORM Hand, Wrist & Elbow, we understand the workers’ compensation process and we are set up to report as needed for workers’ compensation claims.

Our team of specialists will provide you with an immediate diagnosis of the injury, corrective treatment, and medication if needed. We’ll also discuss long-term options for recovery.