Colorado workers' compensation law allows you, the employer, to select the treating physician for work-related injuries, as long as you do the following:
- Offer four medical providers, at least one of which must be at a distinct location without common ownership
- Give your injured employee a written designated provider list notification letter when you are informed of an injury
Designating medical providers who are experts in occupational medicine, and who provide high-quality, cost-effective care that emphasizes a speedy recovery is an integral component of claims management.
Before an injury occurs, you should:
- Choose your SelectNet providers
- Notify all employees of your designated providers
- Have copies of the designated provider list notification letter readily available to give to an employees if an injury occurs
We also recommend that you get to know, and stay in touch with, your designated medical providers. Communication is the key to an effective relationship between the employer and the medical provider. We encourage you to do the following:
- Visit your medical providers at their facilities
- Invite them to tour your facility
- Arrange for them to fax work status reports to you following each medical appointment
- Give your providers copies of your job descriptions so they are aware of the physical requirements of each position
- Provide copies of your modified duty policy and pre-planned modified duty tasks to your medical providers
For more information, see Pinnacol's Return to Work™ consulting resources.
Remember
Even if you give your employees your organization's designated medical provider information before an injury, you must still provide an injured employee the designated provider list notification letter as soon as you are notified of an injury.
Related materials available for order:
If You are Injured on the Job poster
(English)
Notice to Employees poster (English)
Claims Management folder
If You are Injured on the Job poster (Spanish)
Notice to Employees poster (Spanish)
