Click above to read.
Timely questions about Workers’ Compensation and Ebola.
Medical
Did Ebola misstep in Dallas infect other workers? CDC reviews protocol – LA Times
Did Ebola misstep in Dallas infect other workers? CDC reviews protocol – LA Times.
Click above to read.
Healthcare workers who contract Ebola are entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits pursuant to Illinois law.
Mobile medical service debuts, in the rain, outside mission
Mobile medical service debuts, in the rain, outside mission.
Click above to read.
Bloomington-Normal has healthcare available for those without insurance and options for those with medical cards.
Ebola and Workers’ Compensation
With Ebola in the news this is an opportune time to discuss it and its relationship to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation law.
The basic idea behind Workers’ Compensation law is to protect workers who are injured on the job.
However, the protection does not extend to all on the job injuries.
Let’s look at a couple of different scenarios.
A health care worker is assisting at the hospital when a patient is brought in. She helps the doctor with examining the patient and taking the patient to his hospital room. It is determined that the patient is infected with the Ebola virus. The health care worker contracts Ebola several days later.
In this situation it is clear that the health care worker would be entitled to benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. This is because she was exposed during the course of her regular duties and her risk is beyond that of the general population. Illinois Courts have made the risk exposure an important factor in deciding Workers’ Compensation cases.
Another example would involve a food service worker who serves a regular patron who has just returned from a trip to West Africa and has contracted Ebola. The food service worker becomes infected with Ebola from the patron. This is a much tougher case. Using the exposure to risk analysis, the food service worker’s job may not expose him to the risk of Ebola any more than anyone else who works a service job. Of course, you may be able to argue that the nature of Ebola is so contagious that anyone who has a job dealing with the public is at risk.
These situations show that just because you are injured on the job it does not necessary mean you will be able to recover Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.
Behind Closed Doors at Social Security in Illinois
What happens when you file a Social Security disability application?
In many ways it is a mystery what Social Security does and what they look for, but what goes on can be fleshed out a little.
Once you file your application online or at a local Social Security office it is sent on the Springfield, Illinois or Chicago, Illinois for the Division of Disability Services or DDS to review.
At the initial stage there is a person at DDS who orders the medical records and sends out questions to the applicant.
Once the questionnaires and medical records come back the person in charge of your file will review the medical records and answers to the questions you supply and make a determination if you fit within the guidelines for disability.
DDS will also have medical personnel review your case to determine your level of functioning. Such as, are you limited to a sit down job or can you lift 20 pounds or more and can you stand and walk 6 out of 8 hours of the day.
Sometimes DDS will send you to a doctor to examine you.
The doctor will also try to determine your limitations.
In it is most simple form if DDS thinks you are able to work within its guidelines, then it will deny your claim.
You must then file an appeal to move forward with your case. When you appeal DDS will have a new person review your case. This includes ordering updated medical records. The new adjudicator in charge of your case will review your records and make a decision about whether you are able to work.
If you are denied again, then you must request a hearing.
At the hearing level, this is your first chance to see the person who will make a decision in your case face-to-face.
At the earlier levels of review the people at Social Security are only looking at paper work.
This is important to remember because it shows the importance of telling your doctor about your limitations and problems.
If you do not tell your doctor, then Social Security’s reviewers will never know what is happening.
You must also fill out the questionnaires properly. If not then there is the chance the reviewer will mistakenly believe you can function at a higher level than you really are able to.
You must keep in mind what the people at Social Security are really looking for when they review your claim.
Questions about your disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.