PUSH no longer treating employees injured on the job as of July 1

Two approved occupational health clinics available in West Lafayette Campus area.

Supervisors need to be aware that effective July 1, 2009, the Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) will no longer provide treatment for University employees who are injured on the job.

�Occupational Health is the medical specialty that centers around the treatment of worker's compensation injuries,� says Teresa Wesner, retirement/disability/life benefits manager in Staff Benefits. �We'll be directing our employees to providers of this type so that we can take advantage of their expertise in this field. At the same time, this will allow the health care professionals at PUSH to more fully focus on their primary mission of providing health care for Purdue students.�

West Lafayette campus employees needing medical care for a work-related injury or illness may choose between two approved occupational health clinics in Lafayette. �Both of these facilities specialize in providing care for worker's comp cases,� says Wesner. �They're experienced with the specific paperwork and treatment guidelines that will benefit employees with increased efficiencies of follow-up care.�

Staff Benefits suggests that you have your employees call the occupational health clinic to set an appointment and avoid waiting, but an appointment is not required. The two approved care facilities in the West Lafayette campus area are:

• Clarian Arnett Occupational Health Center
  3746 Rome Drive, Lafayette
  Phone: 448-8708
  Hours: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
  Extended hours are available through the Urgent Care clinics on Salisbury Street in West Lafayette or Greenbush Street in Lafayette. Both are open 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. daily.
  
  
• Regional Occupational Care Center (ROCC)
  Unity Health Care Center
  1321 Unity Place, Creasy Lane, Lafayette
  Phone: 446-2450
  Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday
  Extended hours are available through Unity Immediate Care, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. daily, except Christmas

Hospital emergency rooms approved in limited situations

Local hospital emergency rooms are to be used only in the following situations:

• For serious injuries
• For treatment when the occupational health centers and the extended-hours facilities are closed

When the situation calls for using the emergency room, the following hospitals are acceptable providers for work-related injuries and illnesses in the West Lafayette campus area:

• Clarian Arnett Hospital
• Home Hospital
• St. Elizabeth Medical Center

Getting to the treatment facility

• Only contact the Purdue Fire Department for ambulance transportation in the case of very serious injuries, such as heavy bleeding, serious back, neck, or head injuries, and fractures.
• For less serious injuries, the employee should be transported to an approved care facility via a non-ambulance vehicle.

Help your employees avoid paying costs from their own pocket

In addition to being careful to use only the approved facilities listed above, alert your employees to the following important information to ensure that they do not have to pay for treatment from their own pockets.

• Employees should not use their personal physician for a work-related injury.
• Treatment through any provider other than the ones listed above may not be covered by worker's compensation. Employees will be responsible for any unpaid bills.
• Worker's compensation is totally separate from the employee's personal medical care and insurance. Worker's compensation uses Liberty Mutual insurance, which must authorize the medical care the employee receives.

Resources

If you or your employees have questions about worker's compensation claims or treatment, contact the Staff Benefits Disability Coordinator at 49-41691 or the Return-to-Work Coordinator at 49-40306.

More information is available through the Staff Benefits and REM Web sites.

Should a work-related injury or illness occur, please be sure to complete the First Report of Injury Form.

- Staff Benefits team