Choosing A Qualified Rehabilitation Counselor (QRC)

What is a QRC?  A qualified rehabilitation counselor works to assist in the rehabilitation of injured workers.  A QRC has the job of helping injured workers return to suitable employment as quickly as possible. This could mean a return to work with the pre-injury employer, in either the same job or another job, or to a new employer in the same or a different type of work.

Though QRCs are suppose to be neutral parties in the rehabilitation process, any experienced workers compensation attorney will telling you that often those QRCs assigned to you by the employer and insurer have an alternative motive; steering you to a biased uncaring doctor, obtaining a full release of restrictions as soon as possible regardless of you the injured worker, and minimizing rehab costs.  The employer insurer QRC is NOT to be trusted.  They employer and insurer QRC may seem to be your friend and acting on your behalf but before you realize what is happening the damage done may be difficult to reverse.  You have the right to change QRCs at any time within the first 60 days after they are assigned.  However you have the right to chose the initial QRC.  ALWAYS consult with an attorney to obtain a suggestion of the right QRC for you.  At Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office, we can help you with this extremely important task at no cost to you.  Feel free to contact our office directly at 651-333-3636.

The workers' compensation insurance company hired a "Nurse Case Manager" in my case. What does that mean, and how am I supposed to deal with them?

Time and again I ask new clients whether they have a QRC or Qualified Rehabilitation Counselor. These clients often respond that they have a nurse case manager which is the same thing. WRONG!

A nurse case manager is NOT I repeat NOT neutral in any sense of the word. Workers' compensation insurance companies often assign a nurse case manager advising the employee the nurse is merely helping that the injured worker receives the prescribed medical care, and to assure that the worker returns as quickly as possible either in a light duty or full duty position.

The truth is that the nurse case manager often works behind the employee's back to push, bully and force doctors to try to get a premature light duty release from the doctor so you can return. Often this actually leads to delayed recovery and even further injury. Many nurse case managers will try to enter the examination room with the injured worker. You have a right to meet with your doctor privately and unlike many states, here in Minnesota you can prevent the nurse case manager from speaking with the doctor. I often advise my clients to discharge nurse case managers as they serve no benefit to the injured worker. DO NOT ALLOW THE NURSE CASE MANAGER TO SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR PRIVATELY, DEMAND TO BE PRESENT WHEN YOUR MEDICAL CARE IS DISCUSSED.

Do not go it alone. Speak with an experienced workers' compensation lawyer. Call today for a free consultation. Attorney Thomas Atkinson has nearly two decades of practicing exclusively workers compensation. Call today at 651-333-3636 or visit our web site at www.mndisability.com.