IF YOU SUSTAIN AN INJURY ON THE JOB , REGARDLESS OF ITS SEVERITY , IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REPORT IT TO YOUR SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY FOR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION .
room . If you have not experienced this yet , chances are you will at some point in your career . Whether it is a minor incident or a major injury , the process can often be lengthy , cumbersome , and frustrating for all .
IF YOU SUSTAIN AN INJURY ON THE JOB , REGARDLESS OF ITS SEVERITY , IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REPORT IT TO YOUR SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY FOR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION .
I have heard from officers who initially thought their injury was minor , only for it to escalate over time , and now are trying to gain ground on an industrial injury .
So , you might be asking yourself , what should you do if you are injured , whether it is minor or major ? For minor injuries requiring medical attention , you can go directly to Concentra or your primary care physician for the initial visit . If you choose Concentra for subsequent visits , they become your designated doctor for that injury . One common misconception among officers is that they must always go to Concentra , which is not the case — you have the choice .
Regardless of where you seek treatment , you will need to complete industrial paperwork that is all done through E-Chris , streamlining the process . Once assigned , a workers ’ compensation adjuster from CCMSI — our third-party administrator — will be your contact person for the injury .
If you are significantly injured and you require emergency treatment , there are specific steps that you need to follow . Your supervisor should take the necessary paperwork to you to the hospital for completion , and if they do not , remind them so you can have it completed . If you are unable to complete it , your spouse can do so , or you can do it later as per OPS 3.73 . C ( 3 )( a ). After leaving the hospital , you can follow up with a physician of your choice .
If for any reason after your treatment you start to receive bills for services such as doctor visits , ambulance , or emergency room bills , what should you do ? This happens often , so we need to make sure that those bills are billed to the City of Phoenix . Call your adjuster , City Safety staff , or myself if bills are incorrectly addressed to you . Failure to address this promptly can lead to bills going to collections and affecting your credit . The city typically gets a discount if bills are paid within 15 days , so swift action is crucial .
Another critical aspect of industrial injuries is that each injury is assigned 2080 hours ( equivalent to one year ). If you are unable to work due to the injury , workers ’ compensation covers a portion of your salary , with the City supplementing the remainder up to 2080 hours . This time also covers follow-up appointments and prescribed physical therapy . If you exhaust these hours and still need time off , you will start using other types of leave . If you can work light duty , consider it to preserve your bank of hours , which may be needed if the claim reopens .
This article covers the essential aspects of the workers ’ compensation process . For detailed information , refer to Operations Orders 3.7.3 . If you have any questions , contact Tracy Hamilton at the City Safety Department at 602- 534-9530 or tracy . hamilton @ phoenix . gov . If you are having issues that you think might require legal guidance , contact me at the office and we can discuss your claim and see if there is a viable option for you for legal representation in a limited capacity .
You can also reach out to me at the PLEA office or via email at jhernandez @ azplea . com for assistance in reference to anything in this article . I have also added a few resources to the article that could be helpful .
IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND TIMEFRAMES
Claims must be completed and filed within one year of the injury . Prompt reporting and filing are critical to ensure timely processing and avoid denial of benefits .
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS , RESOURCES , AND KEY CONTACTS
Several organizations in Arizona provide support to injured workers , including the following :
• Arizona Industrial Commission ( AIC ): Offers resources , forms , and assistance with claims . ( 602 ) 542-4661
• Ombudsman Office : Provides help with claim processing and referrals . ( 602 ) 542-4538
• Legal Aid Societies : Offer free or low-cost legal services for workers ’ compensation issues .
• Arizona Department of Insurance : NCCI , National Council on Compensation Insurance . ( 800 ) 325-2548
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