HRMatters

Foot, Ankle Institute added to medical panel

The Workers’ Compensation Department has added the School of Podiatric Medicine’s Foot and Ankle Institute to its Panel of Primary Health Care Providers. The Foot and Ankle Institute has two locations to serve injured employees: the main facility at Eighth and Race streets and the Old Dental School at 3223 N. Broad St., suite 150. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 215-238-6600.

The institute offers clinical expertise in podiatric medicine, complex foot and ankle surgery, physical therapy, gait analysis and neurological testing of the lower extremity. Several members of the school’s faculty have been recognized as “Top Docs” by Philadelphia magazine.
Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, employees who become injured on the job must report all incidents to their department head/supervisor immediately. Even if they do not need medical attention at that time, they are required to complete a Temple University Workers’ Compensation Incident Report and an Employee’s Rights and Responsibilities form.

Employees who need medical attention due to a job-related injury must be treated by one of the licensed physicians/practitioners listed on Temple’s Panel of Primary Health Care Providers for the first 90 days of treatment, beginning with their first doctor’s visit. This list is available at www.temple.edu/hr/PANEL~1.HTM. While most injuries are treated at Occupational Health Services, which is located in the basement of Temple University Hospital, employees may elect to be treated at any of the providers listed on the panel.

Employees needing emergency care related to an on-the-job injury should seek treatment at Temple University Hospital’s emergency department or from their nearest healthcare provider. However, follow-up care and visits must be done by a Panel Health Care Provider for the first 90 days of treatment. Going to a non-panel provider during those first 90 days can result in non-payment by Temple.

During the first 90 days of treatment, employees may choose to change doctors, as long as both are Panel Health Care Providers. After the 90-day period, employees who change providers must send notification within five days of treatment to: Temple University’s Workers’ Compensation Department, University Services Building, room 608, 1601 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122. Failure to provide such notification may relieve Temple of the responsibility for the payment of services rendered, if such services are determined to have been unreasonable or unnecessary.

In addition to changing the Panel of Primary Health Care Providers, the Workers’ Compensation Department has revised the Workers’ Compensation Incident Report. The new forms require injured employees to furnish their TUid numbers, rather than their Social Security numbers, when submitting the reports.

Contact the Workers’ Compensation Department at 215-204-3328 or workcomp@temple.edu if you have questions concerning workers’ compensation or to request a supply of the revised incident reports.