If you’re facing a workplace injury in Waco, understanding your options for medical care is crucial. Many people end up at Concentra Urgent Care, notably the facility at 4205 Franklin Ave in Waco, Texas. As a longtime provider of urgent care and occupational medical services, Concentra caters to a wide range of health needs, including workplace injuries.
However, navigating the world of urgent care, especially in the context of work-related injuries, can be complex. If you’re headed to urgent care for a workplace injury, here are some helpful tips on do’s and don’ts, getting a second opinion, and more. As an injured worker, it’s important to feel empowered to make informed decisions regarding your medical care and protect your rights.
Ready to ensure you make the right choices for your health and well-being? Call our office today at (254) 252-3590 or send us an online message for expert guidance and support in navigating the complexities of urgent care and work-related injuries.
What Qualifies as a Workplace Injury?
Understanding what qualifies as a workplace injury is crucial, especially because Texas is a non-subscriber state regarding workers’ compensation. That means that unlike in other states, employers do not have to provide workers’ compensation benefits.
If you’re injured on the job and your employer doesn’t offer workers’ comp benefits, you can pursue a claim for compensation against your employer. However, you must prove they were negligent in some way.
On the other hand, if your employer is covered by workers’ comp, you can file a claim with their insurance. If you get hurt in the course and scope of your employment, workers’ compensation benefits will usually help pay for your medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who is at fault.
A workplace injury is any injury or illness that directly results from your job or work environment. Examples can include accidents like slips and falls, repetitive strain injuries, exposure to harmful substances, and even stress-related conditions.
The critical factor is demonstrating your injury’s direct connection to your job duties or workplace conditions. For instance, if you injure yourself while working on a machine assembly line, it would be a workplace injury. Similarly, if your job involves repetitive motions that led to carpal tunnel syndrome, it is also a workplace injury.
What Not to Do or Say at Your Urgent Care
When you visit Concentra Urgent Care for a workplace injury, there are certain things you should avoid doing or saying. Being prepared can help you avoid inadvertently saying or doing something that could put your potential claim at risk.
First, you want to make sure you do not downplay your symptoms. You must provide a transparent and honest account of your condition. You don’t want to exaggerate your symptoms either in hopes the doctor will order you off work longer. Downplaying or exaggerating your condition could lead to an improper diagnosis and failure to get the treatment you actually need.
Don’t speculate on what your injuries are. Stick to the facts, describe the incident exactly as it happened, and let the medical doctor do their examination.
It’s often a natural reaction to say things like, “I’m fine” or, “It’s not that bad.” However, those statements can be misconstrued, and the doctor may think you are doing better than you actually are. Instead, focus on describing your injuries and current limitations with work.
Lastly, avoid discussing legal or compensation matters with medical staff. Their role is to provide medical care rather than legal advice. If you have concerns about pursuing a claim for your injuries, contacting a Texas workplace injury lawyer is always better.
How Much Is a Visit to Concentra Urgent Care?
The cost of visiting a Concentra Urgent Care clinic will vary from person to person. Every person’s injuries differ, and so does their medical visit. There will be a standard office visit charge, and then the final charge depends on what testing you have done.
For example, X-rays cost a certain amount, but some body parts might be more expensive than others. It’s impossible to know what they will charge without speaking with them. You can always call to ask what the minimum charge for a visit is. Otherwise, they should review each test’s costs before conducting them.
Remember, if your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, they will be required to pay the cost of medical care related to your workplace injury. If your employer is a nonsubscriber but their actions caused your injury, you may be able to recover the costs of your medical expenses through a personal injury lawsuit.
How to Obtain a Second Medical Opinion
After an initial assessment at an urgent care center like Concentra in Waco, you might feel they have misdiagnosed you or have not taken your symptoms as seriously as they should have. Remember that you have the right to get a second opinion about your diagnosis or treatment plan.
You can start by contacting your primary care physician for a referral. Or you can contact a specialist who deals with your type of injury directly. Some specialists might only take new patients with a referral, so starting with your primary care doctor might be necessary.
Your attorney may also be able to provide a recommendation for a physician familiar with workplace injuries. Whomever you see, you’ll want to share details of your urgent care visit, including their diagnosis and proposed treatment, your current symptoms, and information on how the workplace injury happened.
When seeking a second opinion, bring all documentation to help the second doctor. For example, you’ll want medical records, doctor notes, and diagnostic test images, such as X-rays. Coming armed with all your records helps the second doctor make an informed evaluation without the delay and cost of repeating unnecessary tests.
You should be upfront with the doctor about why you’re getting a second opinion. Maybe you have concerns about the treatment plan or disagree with the diagnosis. Sometimes, people need to have peace of mind. Whatever the reason for the second opinion, a reputable healthcare professional will respect your decision to seek a second opinion.
What do you do if the second opinion differs significantly from the one you received at Concentra Urgent Care? Consider discussing the findings with both healthcare providers.
You can also ask the second-opinion doctor a series of questions to assess their findings better. For example, you might ask them how often they treat patients with the same condition you have or what the pros and cons of your recommended treatment are.
When Visiting an Urgent Care Makes Sense
Urgent care centers are ideal for treating non-life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical treatment but are not severe enough for the emergency room. Potential examples include sprains, strains, wounds that require stitches, and mild to moderate work-related injuries.
If your injury needs immediate medical attention but isn’t an emergency, visiting an urgent care center is likely the way to go. They offer faster service than emergency rooms and often have extended hours, accommodating those needing care outside regular office hours.
Call Your Workplace Injury Lawyer to Learn More About Concentra Urgent Care
Speaking with a Texas workplace injury lawyer makes sense, especially if you disagree with Concentra’s assessment or their recommendation to return to work. An experienced lawyer can offer invaluable advice on navigating the legal aspects of pursuing a workplace injury claim.
At The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C., we can help you understand your rights and how the claims process works. We have over 85 years of combined experience assisting injured victims with nonsubscriber workplace injury claims.
Don’t hesitate to contact our Waco office if you have questions about seeking medical care at Concentra Urgent Care after a workplace injury.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
Rate this Post
Loading...