Thanks, I'll fax request today!

John828 /m6027 - Yes, You are entitled to a copy of any and all questions/inquiries posed to any SECOP (second opinion physician) or referee physician that DOL/OWCP may send you to.

Write your claims examiner and tell her/him to send you a copy of the SOAF, questions posed to the physician, and any other correspondence furnished to the physician for his/her review before or during your exam.

You may also ask for a copy of your OWCP file. OWCP will tell you that you are allowed one copy of your file. What this means is that after they send you a copy of your file any future requests will need to state ALL DOCUMENTS contained in your file subsequent to your prior copy request.

If you ask for the documents in time and if your CE responds fast enough you may get these things BEFORE the exam.

Am I entitled to a copy of all materials presented by DOL,to a physician for an 'impartial evaluation',ahead of attending required appt.? (I.E. List of soaf,list of questions,copy of all materials presented,...)

yawnee55 /m6017 - My source tells me...

The field nurse will not make you go to any other physician. Only DOL (OWCP) has the authority to schedule a second opinion examination. Having said that, the nature of the surgery will determine the next cause of action. For example, knee or shoulder arthroscopy does not require additional medical development.

It is likely that your surgery has been authorized via your attending physician. The authorization is a pre-requisite to assigning the field nurse and placement to the periodic roll payment.

Edited by author 11-21-2009 03:52 PM
JCranch-
As Rick stated, NO you do not have to allow her in during exam with doctor. You could allow her to come in after the exam. Some have had no problems with their nurse.

Edited by author 11-21-2009 02:05 PM
I have had a nurse show up at a doctor.s appointment. I asked her to to wait outside and she did.
she also came to my home after my surgery to see how I was doing and asked if I needed anything to help with my recovery. After that I never saw another nurse.

JCranch /m6022 - As far as I know - No, you do not. Additionally, if the nurse come into the exam room your physician can ask them to leave the room. I HAVE had my physician do that before.

Snowed
My lawyer said that I do have to allow the nurse into my room with me and the Dr. I do not believe in this because I am shy and unable to discuss my case pain depression while she is there. Do I have to allow the nurse in the room with Dr. and Me?

postaljoe-
I did not have personal experience but READing thru case decisions gave me some insight. Whatever your issue, you need EVIDENCE to back it up. Yes I believe ECAB makes decisions clearer.

Has anyone ever had a claim/case go before ECAB? Please, if you have will you share your experience...how long did it take - what was it like - do you believe you were treated (sorta) fairly - did it seem that ECABs review of your claim was more thorough and made more sense than your CE's and OWCP's. Or anything else you can share about your ECAB experience.

I sure hope I don't have too many problems. It is my intention to recover from my surgery and then return to my route full time. I'm just a little worried about the transition from surgery to light duty and light duty to full duty given the current state of light duty in the Postal Service. I don't want to lose my job, I just want to recover and get back to work. I only have 3 years till retirement. Am learning a lot from this forum. Thanks to everyone who contributes.

yawnee55 /m6013 - In answer to your question my source says...

Once a claim is accepted and placed on periodic roll payment, the claim is assigned to a field nurse. The primary goal is to facilitate recovery and return to some type of employment capacity. It could be light duty to full duty position based on the medical evidence provided by the physician.

The field nurse is under the jurisdiction of the DOL(OWCP). This is a normal routine.

So they can make me go to one or several of their doctors with this nurse even though my surgery is already sceduled with my chosen doctor?

yawnee55-
Yes this is quite normal. I would proceed with caution. You do not have to allow her in exam room. Also caution your doctor that medical decisions should be between you and him/her, NOT the nurse. She will try and be your friend, remember she works for PO.

Also now the three ring circus begins good luck you will need it.

Edited by author 11-20-2009 01:02 AM
/m0613

I would be very careful what you say or do around that nurse. I had one that drug me around to 8 different doctors.
The first clown that they sent me to said I could work 4 hours a day. Also he never even examined me. I saw him two weeks before I got my first check. the day my check came my wife and I were going out the door, the phone rang I answered it. the scumbag injury compensation office from my command said I had to be at work no later than 0800 the following Monday morning. Then later that evening the nurse called me and said she would be there at my work. She paraded me around to different doctors. Finally I was at my Family doctors office. My family doctor run her out of the exam room and her office. Also all of the other doctors that the OWCP nurse took me to also had law degrees hanging on their walls.
Be very careful....they say they are there to help you. NOT they are there to get you to go to A doctor that works for them to get you off of OWCP