June 4, 2009
PUSH no longer treating work-related injuries as of July 1
Effective July 1, 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 focus more fully 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," Wesner says. "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 worker's compensation patients 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.
Emergency room visits
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
Contact the Purdue Fire Department for ambulance transportation only 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.
Avoid paying costs from the employee's pocket
In addition to being careful to use only the approved facilities listed above, Wesner alerts worker's compensation patients 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
Employees with questions about worker's compensation claims or treatment may 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, be sure to complete the First Report of Injury Form