Section 13: Workers' Compensation

13.01 General Information and Procedures

Residents in the Emory training program are covered under Emory Healthcare and Emory University Workers' Compensation program. All incidents, regardless of type, should be documented and reported when the event occurs. Types of injuries include, but are not limited to, sprains and strains, slips/trips/falls, lacerations, abrasions, burns, needle sticks, blood and body fluid exposures, tuberculosis conversions, chemical exposures and occupationally related dermatitis. It is extremely important to notify Emory’s Occupational Health Services (OHS) department as soon as possible. This ensures that the resident receives appropriate treatment through the approved panel of physicians if indicated, and services provided under workers' compensation paid.

13.02 Commonly Asked Workers' Compensation Questions

1. WHAT IS WORKERS' COMPENSATION?
   Workers' Compensation is an accident insurance program that provides medical and income benefits to employees/residents injured on the job.
2. WHEN ARE RESIDENTS COVERED UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION?
   A resident's coverage begins on his/her first day of training in the residency training program.
3. WHEN SHOULD A JOB INJURY OR ILLNESS BE REPORTED?
   Any training program related injury or illness should be reported immediately to Occupational Health Services and to the resident's program director or other faculty member so that the resident receives timely treatment and the incident is appropriately documented. An Emory Incident Report must be completed as soon as possible but should be done within 24 hours of the incident. The Emory Incident Report may also be completed when reporting to the Occupational Health Services office. FAILURE TO REPORT THE INJURY MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF BENEFITS.
4. HOW DOES THE RESIDENT SEEK TREATMENT?
   Initially, injured residents are to complete an Emory Incident Report and report to the Occupational Health Services Advanced Practice Provider (APP) for assessment and treatment. If further evaluation is needed, the resident may choose a panel physician. Listings of our panel physicians are posted in various locations throughout Emory University, Emory Healthcare, and the Occupational Health Services webpage.
5. WHAT MEDICAL TREATMENT WILL BE PAID?
   For work-related injuries and illnesses, all AUTHORIZED doctors' bills and hospital bills are paid. Medications, testing or diagnostic procedures, and rehabilitation appointments such as physical therapy are also paid if ordered by the treating "panel" physician or Occupational Health Services Advanced Practice Provider (APP).

QUESTIONS? See section 13.04, Workers’ Compensation Contact Information for any questions.

If a resident has a work-related injury or illness, he or she must:

1. Complete an Emory Incident Report, regardless of forms required at the facility where the work-related injury occurred. The Emory Incident Report will be electronically transmitted to Occupational Health Services. You will be contacted by Occupational Health Services by the next business day. If you are not contacted by Occupational Health Services following one business day of submitting your incident report, contact the office by phone, 404-686-8587.   Please refer to the contact list below for additional contacts/resources.
2. Notify the Residency Program Director/Coordinator.
3. If emergency treatment is needed, report to the Emergency Department in the facility where the injury occurred. If a blood/body fluid exposure occurs after hours and the source is HIV+ or has HIV risk factors, seek immediate treatment in the Emergency Department. A consult with an Infectious Disease physician must be sought prior to initiating PEP treatment. Failure to do so may result in non-payment of See below for specific directions following a blood/body fluid exposure.
4. After initial emergency treatment, follow-up with the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) in Occupational Health Services at any of our office locations: EUH, EUHM, ESJH, or EJCH to notify them of the incident and any information regarding work status changes.
5. If additional treatment is needed, the Occupational Health Services Advanced Practice Provider (APP) will coordinate any medical follow-up required.
6. If non-emergent treatment is needed, contact Occupational Health Services at 404-686-8587.
7. Original medical reports and all work status documents should be brought with you to Occupational Health Services. This should be done as soon as possible after the incident occurs.
8. All Authorized medical treatment in connection with a work-related injury or illness, including emergency room treatment, will be covered under the workers' compensation program. For the purposes of this program, authorized medical treatment must be from one of the physicians posted on the Pink Panel of Physicians.
9. Refer questions regarding bills to the Occupational Health Services Business Manager at, (404) 686-8541.

For all Emory Healthcare affiliated facilities:

If you sustain a blood/body fluid exposure DURING Occupational Health Services (OIM) business hours please report immediately for evaluation (usually between 7:30 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Friday, although days of service may be limited at some locations) OR call the on-call Occupational Health Services provider at 404-686-5500 PIC# 50464 for further guidance. If an exposure occurs AFTER business hours, please page the on-call hospital Administrative Nursing Supervisor, who can perform the initial evaluation of the exposure and order laboratory testing on the source patient, if needed; if further evaluation or consideration of prophylactic therapy is necessary, you will be referred to the Emergency Department. For exposures to potentially HIV infected materials, please page the OIM APP on-call; the Hospital Epidemiologist will be contacted to determine if and what antiretroviral therapy is warranted.

For Grady Memorial Hospital Exposures:
Please call the Grady STIX hotline (404-616-STIX) for guidance OR during business hours report to Employee Health on 15A.

For the VA Medical Center Exposures:
Please call the WHSC Needlestick Hotline (404-727-4736)

The WHSC Needlestick Hotline (404-727-4736) may be called 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you will be directed to the appropriate location as needed. ALL Emory Healthcare employees should complete an employee incident through PeopleSoft/E-vantage as soon as possible. If you are evaluated by the Emergency Dept. please report to Occupational Health Services the following business day. Additional information, including an algorithm for managing exposures is available on the Emory Healthcare intranet under Occupational Health Services in the “quick links” section.

13.04 Contact Information for the Emory University Workers' Compensation Program

Occupational Health Services (OHS)

Hours of Operation:      7:30am – 4:00pm
Phone:                        404-686-8587
OHS App On-Call:         404-686-5500  Pic# 50464
Medical Director:           Dr. Scott Henderson scott.henderson@emory.edu

Questions related to your treatment, medications, or follow-up, Emory Healthcare, Occupational Health Services has 24/7 on-call coverage to assist you:

Occupational Health Services (OHS) is a multidisciplinary team of advanced practice providers, registered nurses, nurse case managers, medical assistants, physical therapists and support staff committed to the pursuit of an optimal work environment, in compliance with applicable regulations, through the delivery of health promotion and preventive services, occupational surveillance, care and case management of workplace injuries or exposures, to support the well-being and safety of our staff.

Updated June 2022