If you have suffered a serious injury, the workers’ compensation insurance company may assign a nurse to attend your medical appointments with you. This person is sometimes called a rehabilitation professional or case management nurse. A nurse case manager is supposed to be impartial and exercise independent professional judgment in making and documenting recommendations for medical rehabilitation of the injured worker even though the nurse is hired by the insurance company. Insurance companies hire these nurses to assist in coordinating your medical treatment and to provide other information and reports regarding your progress and treatment. Often, nurses can be very helpful in your rehabilitation, but sometimes it seems like they work for your employer against you. If you feel this is the case, consult an attorney.

A nurse case manager is not allowed to conduct or assist any party in claims negotiation, investigative activities or other non-rehabilitation activities. He or she cannot by law advise a worker on any legal matters. If a nurse case manager is assigned to your case, the nurse is required to provide you a copy of Industrial Commission Rules governing these nurses at the beginning of the assignment, so you will know your rights. You can review the rules on the Industrial Commission website.

While a nurse case manager has the right to attend your medical appointments, you as the injured worker have the right to a private examination by your doctor. You can request this private examination.

If a nurse case manager has been assigned to your case and you think that the nurse assigned to your case is not acting impartially or in your best interests, contact an attorney to assist you.

Attorney Assistance With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you have questions or concerns about your case management nurse, contact a workers’ compensation attorney at the law firm of Hemmings & Stevens, PLLC today. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingent fee basis, which means there are no fees unless we make a recovery for you. You can call us at 919.277.0161 or contact us online. We maintain our offices in Raleigh, but we handle workers’ compensation cases statewide.

This article regarding nurse case managers and workers’ compensation claims is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal or medical advice. If you have been injured on the job, you may need to seek the advice of a workers’ compensation lawyer at the law firm of Hemmings & Stevens, PLLC that has experience in these matters.