Occupational Safety & Health -Story Time (Horror Story) version Podcast # 62

Government Agency -Medical and Occupational Health Program consists  of agency personnel that provide administrative functions, wellness initiatives, and other medically related activities designed to address the health and safety of employees in the workplace. The mission of the National Medical and Occupational Health Program is to reinforce the relationship between health, productivity, and the achievement of the Government Agency's business goals. This is accomplished through the development of quality programs and policies designed to promote and maintain employee health and to help ensure a safe, healthful work environment. The program’s services include but are not limited to the following activities:

      a. Providing preventive medical programs in health counseling, education, and        training.

      b. Managing the care of acutely ill or injured employees.

     c. Determining medical ability of applicants and employees to perform the

    functions of the job.

    d. Managing applicant and employee drug and alcohol testing programs.

    e. Managing compliance with the regulatory requirements of the

Department of Transportation, Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other entities for which program compliance is required.

For more information click on the show transcript:

Dr. Taylor’s contact information is: fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP /  DOL claim in Tampa,  Pensacola Florida or Mobile Alabama    you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan   at the clinic at  FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor  call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go  to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

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Transcript

Welcome to Federal Workers Compensation Coffee break Podcast. I am your host Dr. Taylor. I am an OWCP consultant who has been assisting and working with clients for over 30 years in the work comp arena. Here at this podcast we discuss all sorts of topics related to federal workers compensation, Department of Labor, OWCP, FECA ACT, FERS, longshore-maritime, DOD contractors, VA benefits. I cover these relevant topics in a short coffee break style format because we like to discuss topics that are related to helping you the government employee with filing your claim, understanding your rights and responsibilities, relevant rules and provisions. I also like to cover topics that people are always wanting information on to help you successfully navigate the convoluted waters of federal claim filing. I do this to assist you, you and your doctor or your coworkers with claim filing denials or with appropriate filing of benefit claims, disability or injured worker claims. Ok, as always let’s get that coffee started and dive in on … LWEC and electronically signing CA 7 forms in ECOMP! 

Today we are going to do a story time episode version of the podcast. I haven’t done a story time episode in a couple of years. This story time episode is going to be a HORROR story episode. This story upset me so much that I finally had to speak out about it. Today we are going to talk about two of the most misunderstood problems with the recent changes involving OWCP injury filing with ECOMP and that is the Employee agencies  adding occupational safety and health personnel in certain  government divisions.

So before I tell you this horror story… let’s cover what HR department’s  Medical and

Occupational Health Program consists  of:

 Here is the formal description the OCC health personnel provide administrative functions, wellness initiatives, and other medically related activities designed to address the health and safety of employees in the workplace. The mission of the National Medical and Occupational Health Program is to reinforce the relationship between health, productivity, and the achievement of the Government Agency's business goals. This is accomplished through the development of quality programs and policies designed to promote and maintain employee health and to help ensure a safe, healthful work environment. The program’s services include but are not limited to the following activities:

a. Providing preventive medical programs in health counseling, education,

and training.

b. Managing the care of acutely ill or injured employees.

c. Determining medical ability of applicants and employees to perform the

functions of the job.

d. Managing applicant and employee drug and alcohol testing programs.

e. Managing compliance with the regulatory requirements of the

Department of Transportation, Office of Worker’s Compensation

Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other

entities for which program compliance is required.

So, sounds like a good thing right? I believe that this program does offer some benefits to government workers when it is implemented correctly. But, in the last couple of years I have seen some terrible cases of abuses of this program that become an increasing trend that has hurt a lot of injured government workers. Now, before I get into the horror story of tone of the worse abuses I have run across, let me say this. I have never in 30 years badmouthed any of the people involved in the process of claim filing of DOL-OWCP injured worker claims. I know a lot of people at DOL, OWCP, unions, attorneys, and thousands of injured workers over 30 years. I have seen abuses but I have also seen wonderful people doing wonderful things at DOL, OWCP and at agencies. So, I have always showed more gratitude and appreciation for the numerous people who help people and do a good job. I do not make a habit of running people down for mistreatment of others. I do not believe in promoting your self by running down others… I never have and I never will. Even when there are plenty of times I could…I have not. I always end my social media or podcast posts over the years with thank you’s and I do that because I see a lot of people doing hard jobs that are stuck in a difficult bureaucratic administrative process that is difficult to navigate. 

So, let’s begin our horror story of a case that a patient and a doctor reached out to me on, recently. 

A postal worker sustained a terrible injury to her shoulder at work a couple of years ago. Explain the severity of the injury

OCC health assisted with CA-1, provided her with an introduction packet (not from OWCP by the way). Then phone calls and emails requesting medical records and off work forms began. Occ health person instructed the injured worker to give her everything and she would take care of the filing of her claim, including medical reports, off work, diagnostics medical reports etc. Now, remember that occupational health personnel work for the employee agency and not for OWCP. Their job is specifically to address the agencies needs and not the injured worker. 

Tell the story …

Well that does it for this episode of Federal Workers Comp Coffee break  Podcast 

 If you think that you or someone you work with has experienced situations like this you can refer to this podcast and I recommend that you get the union involved and/or speak to an OWCP attorney. 

 So,  I want to thank you for listening and want to remind you to share this podcast with other federal workers you think would benefit from this information. Also be kind enough to leave a review on the platform you found this podcast, like or subscribe to any of the major podcast platforms or our youtube channel so others will also find this information. Also if you need an approved  medical provider for your DOL -OWCP Or Longshore case in Florida you can still  find me in Tampa   and Pensacola. To make a consultation with me to discuss your case or if you know someone if Florida who is recently injured you can call the clinic at 813-215-4356  or go  to our website at https://fedcompconsultants.com/   & https://mrtherapycenter.com/  Also if you are in  another state and you want me to assist you with claim questions or assistance for your  doctor you can email me at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com 

Ok… I think that is enough for today…I need to warm up this coffee and get going. As usual I want to thank all of you who put on that uniform, that badge, deliver that mail, take care of our veterans and make this government run… a big thank you. I do this for free just for you…We could not do this  without all of the work all of you out there do…so this is my big  thank you. And remember if you  have an injured federal claim and you need assistance….I am  here to help!.

See you next time.

Off to get my coffee!