Workers' comp doctor directory, in development
The medical side of a work injury, made clear.
We are building a directory of doctors and clinics that say they treat workers' compensation patients, state by state, with plain guides to the medical steps of a claim. Every state rule is sourced to that state's workers' comp agency.
What wc.doctor is
After a work injury, the paperwork arrives before the answers do. wc.doctor explains the medical steps of a workers' comp claim, who can treat you, which exams the insurer may ask for and what the words in the letters mean, and it will list the clinics that say they take workers' comp patients.
We are not a medical provider, and nothing here replaces a conversation with your own doctor about your care. A listing is never an endorsement or a rating.
The guides
Five topics, one claim
Every guide explains a process and quotes the official rule. None of them tell you what is wrong or what care to get.
Start hereFinding a workers' comp doctorWho picks the treating doctor in your state, what to bring, and how to check a license.
Exams in a claimMedical exams in workers' compWhat an independent medical examination is, who orders it, and what usually happens.
Commercial driversDOT physicalsWhat the exam includes, what it costs, and the federal standards, quoted from FMCSA.
Employment testingWorkplace drug testingWhat pre-employment tests screen for, DOT and non-DOT testing, and how results are handled.
The specialtyOccupational medicineWhat occupational medicine doctors do, and the clinic services employers use.How it usually works
The medical side of a claim, in order
The broad steps are similar in most states. The details, deadlines and who decides are not, so every state page cites its agency.
- 01
The injury is reported
The worker tells the employer, and the employer reports it to its workers' comp insurer. Each state sets its own reporting deadlines, and the state agency publishes them.
- 02
A first visit with a treating doctor
Depending on the state, the employer, the insurer or the worker chooses the first doctor. That doctor's notes become the medical record of the claim.
- 03
Exams the insurer may request
An independent medical examination or a functional capacity evaluation may be scheduled by the insurer. The state sets the rules on notice and on your rights at the visit.
- 04
Maximum medical improvement
At some point a doctor may say the condition has stabilized. In many states that point affects benefits, which is where wc.lawyer, our sister site, picks up.
Our method
Sourced to the agency, never to memory
- Every state rule links to that state's workers' comp agency, with the date we read it.
- Federal standards are quoted from FMCSA, DOT and OSHA as written.
- License facts point to the state medical board lookup, so you can check for yourself.
- Listings are never ranked by quality. Paid spots are always marked Sponsored.
- No reviews or testimonials we did not collect.
Common questions
Start with the question you have
These are the questions injured workers and new hires search for most. Each one leads into the topic guide that answers it.
- Can workers' comp make me see their doctor?Finding a workers' comp doctor
- What is an independent medical examination?Medical exams in workers' comp
- What does a DOT physical include?DOT physicals
- What do pre-employment drug tests look for?Workplace drug testing
- What does maximum medical improvement mean?Medical exams in workers' comp
- What is occupational medicine?Occupational medicine
For injured workers
Free, plain and sourced
Find clinics that say they treat workers' comp patients near you, read what each step of the claim involves, and check a doctor's license yourself. We never ask for your medical records or claim number.
How to find a workers' comp doctorFor clinics
Be found by the patients you treat
Occupational health clinics, orthopedic practices, physical therapists and chiropractors who treat workers' comp patients will be able to request a listing. Paid placements are always labeled Sponsored, and order never implies quality.
How listings work
One step at a time
Know what the next appointment is for before you walk in.
Pick the topic that matches the letter on your table, and read it in ten minutes. If a legal question comes up, our sister site wc.lawyer covers that side.