Workplace Injuries: Why Immediate Injury Care Matters

By Alison Adduono, Director of Marketing

A Workplace Injury Sends Me To Urgent Care

As I sat in the urgent care waiting room worrying about my eyes, I pondered… was there a problem… was it going to affect my permanent vision… and then I realized the urgent care clinic was more concerned with the people that came in after me that may have COVID. Why was I an afterthought? Why did I wait over 4 hours to be seen? No pun intended.

What happened, you may ask? How did I sustain an injury? It occurred while I was engaged in a part-time role at a retail store, busy replacing glass shelves. Without warning, one shelf shattered, imploding in my face. In haste, I rinsed my eyes at the nearest sink, hoping for relief. Yet, a persistent scratchiness lingered—was it psychological, or had debris lodged itself in my eyes? I obviously needed to get it checked ASAP. This wasn’t my first workplace mishap, so I was familiar with the process; during the COVID era, I lost two front teeth to a metallic rooster—an odd tale for another occasion, ripe for humorous interpretations.

Will you use Worker’s Compensation?

Workplace injuries are a reality — some mundane, others bizarre. Ultimately, how an employer responds is what truly counts. Do they adhere to workers’ compensation protocols, potentially raising their premiums and adding to the injured party’s distress? Or do they opt for private injury services that offer prompt care? For incidents that don’t require extenuating emergency services (such as surgery, etc.), having access to immediate medical attention is invaluable. On-demand medical professionals can save time for those seeking urgent care. Swift and convenient medical assistance not only mitigates liability but also accelerates recovery. While some may choose to self-transport to medical facilities/clinics for non-severe injuries, on-site medical services could lessen employer liability and hasten the healing process.

I’ve sustained injuries at my retail job a couple of times. On one occasion, having an on-site or arranged injury care provider would have been extremely beneficial. On the flip side, I do understand the necessity of visiting a clinic, urgent care, or emergency department for certain services that on-site providers can’t offer, like emergency surgery or dental reconstruction (which I needed after one mishap).

In general, as someone who has experienced a couple of workplace injuries, I recognize the importance of prompt medical attention and workers’ compensation care. Some injuries are minor (i.e., cuts, sprains, etc.) and can be addressed quickly, while others need comprehensive treatment or even specialist intervention. For instance, my dental injuries required a specialist’s care (with a workers’ comp claim for cosmetic dentistry). Nevertheless, it’s quite rare to find oneself resembling a carnival worker or channeling a Bugs Bunny impression after a workplace accident (yes — the one time I actually embraced the mask mandate).

But when I had glass in my face, what I urgently needed was immediate attention to address my primary concerns, such as thoroughly rinsing my eyes to prevent further harm and inspecting them to provide assurance that my vision was not at risk. Injury Care services would have been ideal in this scenario. It would have spared me the frustration checking in and time lost waiting just to be seen by a medical professional.

Injury Care Options With ORIGINONE

Origin Diagnostics has crafted a comprehensive online platform that bridges the gap between employees, employers, third-party administrators, and healthcare providers. As an employer, you’re faced with a variety of requirements ranging from background checks to occupational health services (including drug testing, physical examinations, and wellness programs) and injury care. ORIGINONE offers a unified solution, eliminating the need to juggle multiple resources or systems. Employers who utilize ORIGINONE demonstrate a commitment to prioritizing their employees’ well-being.

As an employee, I would have greatly benefited from immediate access to injury care services during the incident with my eyes. For employers, it’s prudent to proactively develop an Injury Care Plan and establish connections with occupational health clinics. Employers should reach out to Origin Diagnostics to explore the array of services offered through ORIGINONE, and communicate with their preferred providers, who may already be part of the network or could join. Providers of occupational health and injury care services are encouraged to join the ORIGINONE network to cut costs, streamline operations, and expand their clientele.

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