The patient-doctor relationship that you hold with various medical professionals in your life will serve as some of the most important professional ties that you have. They treat you and should also protect your personal information, which you often need to share with them.
However, sustaining an injury while on the job can put some of the power of choosing a doctor into your employer’s hands. While this is normally fine, you should keep an eye out for red flags that might indicate you should start looking for another doctor.
Keeping an eye peeled for red flags
The California Department of Industrial Relations looks at how doctors end up assigned to patients in cases of workers’ compensation. Red flags may potentially indicate that you should move on to another doctor, especially if your employer suggested or even assigned your first.
First, you should always keep an eye on the end goal of improving from your injury. Recovering from an injury or illness caused by your work may take weeks, months or even years sometimes, but you should still see some improvement, regardless of how slowly it progresses. If you do not notice any improvements whatsoever, it could indicate inadequate care.
Do you feel listened to?
Next, you should seek another doctor if you feel yours is not listening to you. When a doctor makes up his or her mind, it can leave you feeling helpless. Try to keep a journal where you record your lifestyle and work limitations, daily pain, and any side effects from treatments or medications. If your voice concerns and consistently feel brushed off or ignored, consider moving on.
Finally, if you feel you need specialist care, seek it out. Workers’ compensation doctors should understand this possibility and send you to any specialist care professionals you need. If they refuse to do this or even acknowledge the need for professionals, it is a red flag.
