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Northwestern
University employees who incur bona fide occupational related injuries or
illnesses shall be entitled to all necessary medical and hospital care.
Additionally, employees who are medically approved to be absent from work
by a University-authorized physician shall be entitled to certain disability
benefits in accordance with the Illinois Workers' Compensation and Occupational
Diseases Act and other related laws.
Northwestern
University has designated Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health, 676 North St. Clair Street, 9th floor - Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611, (312)
926-8282, as the primary care facility for work-related injuries and illnesses.
This facility is set up for emergency and extended care and is well staffed
and equipped to provide University employees with superior medical services.
Department Administrators are directed to instruct their supervisors to
use Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health for all employees needing work-related
medical care during the University workday. Hospital emergency services,
shall be used only in life-threatening medical situations, e.g. severe
chest pains, gun shot wounds, severe burns, hemorrhaging, severe head
injuries, open (compound) fractures and other situations which could be
considered life threatening. Should life-threatening circumstances occur,
call 911. UP will direct Chicago Fire Department paramedics to the employee
for treatment and transportation to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital
emergency room. Follow-up care, if needed, will be provided by Northwestern
Memorial Corporate Health at their Chicago facility.
- If
an employee is injured during work hours (8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., Monday
through Friday) and medical treatment is required and it is of a non-life-threatening
nature, the following procedure is to be followed:
- The
injured employee's supervisor is notified of the injury or illness.
In most cases the employee will be referred to Northwestern Memorial
Corporate Health, which is located at 676 North St. Clair Street, 9th floor - Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611.
-
The injured employee's supervisor will notify the Office of Risk Management
of the injury and assist in completion of the
Supervisor's
Injury or Illness Investigation Report
(Click
here
if you are having trouble opening this report).
The supervisor will also advise the Claims Division of any injury-causing
conditions which need to be corrected.
- The
Claims Manager will then contact Northwestern Memorial Corporate
Health to arrange for an appointment for an examination. The Claims
Manager will then advise the employee's supervisor of the appointment
time and location.
- All
employees receiving either initial or emergency room follow-up treatment
at Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health will be given a "Duty Status
Report" indicating when they may resume their full or modified duties
and whether a follow-up visit with the doctor is required. Employees
returning to the Chicago Campus from Northwestern Memorial Corporate
Health will deliver the "Duty Status Report" to their Supervisor.
When the employee is not returning to the Chicago Campus, it will be
his/her responsibility to see that the "Duty Status Report" is
delivered to their Supervisor as soon as possible. In either case, the
Supervisor will deliver the "Duty Status Report" to the Office
of Risk Management's Claims Division, 2020 Ridge Avenue, Evanston Campus
via FAX at (847) 467-7475.
- If
an employee is injured between 4:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M., and non-emergency
medical treatment is required, the employee should seek such treatment
at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital emergency room. Upon arrival at
the emergency room, employees must identify themselves
as "Northwestern University Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health"
patients as Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health will provide
follow-up care, if needed.
If
it is determined by Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health physicians that
as the result of a work related injury or illness, an employee is not able
to perform his/her normal duties but is able to perform other meaningful
tasks, a modified duty assignment will be provided to the employee. The
following procedure will be used in the identification of suitable modified
duty and the assignment of employees to same.
University Departments have identified various tasks under their jurisdiction
which may be utilized for modified duty purposes. Upon delivery of the
Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health "Duty Status Report" to
the Claims Division, the Division Manager or his designee will check with
the employee's department to determine if modified duty within physician
restrictions is available. If the employee's department is unable or unwilling
to provide appropriate modified duty, other departments will be contacted
to locate duties that are suitable for the employee. Upon notification
by Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health that an employee is ready to
resume normal duties, the Claims Manager will advise his/her department
of the employee's change in work status. The Claims Manager will at all
times keep the Department of Human Resources informed as to the employee's
modified duty assignment and payroll status.
- If,
after initial treatment or examination at Northwestern Memorial Corporate
Health, the injured employee is authorized to be absent from work and/or
will require additional treatment or medical care, he/she may be eligible
for certain disability benefits under the Illinois Workers' Compensation
and Occupational Diseases Act. This will depend on the length of authorized
absence and the nature of employment with the University.
- Any
follow-up medical/hospital expense incurred by an employee from his/her
personal physician and/or hospital facility for treatment of a work
related injury must be forwarded to the Claims Division with an appropriate
medical report explaining the charges before they can be processed for
payment or the employee can be reimbursed by the University.
- It
is the responsibility of each employee to keep the University, via the
Claims Division, informed of his/her current medical condition when
he/she chooses to be treated by personal physician rather than the University's
designated medical facility.
- Workers'
Compensation benefits may be postponed, withheld or suspended should
the employee: (a) fail or refuse to submit detailed medical reports
or other information from his/her personal physician or hospital to
the University; or (b) refuse or fail to appear for a medical examination
by a physician designated by the University.
- Employees
who sustain on-the-job injuries or illnesses may not receive Workers'
Compensation disability benefits without being first certified as disabled
by a University-authorized physician.
- In
accordance with the Illinois Workers' Compensation and Occupational
Diseases Act and applicable rules of the Illinois Industrial Commission,
any employee absent from work as a result of a work related injury which
has not been certified by a University-authorized physician, will be
either on his/her own accumulated sick time, if available, or will be
off the payroll.
- Should
there arise a difference of opinion between the University-authorized
physician and the employee's personal physician regarding the employee's
length of disability, the University, in most cases, will rely on the
medical opinion of the University-authorized physician and the medical
differences, if any, may be resolved before the Illinois Industrial
Commission.
- Any
questions regarding workers' compensation claim status, payment of medical
bills, modified duty, or other matters associated with this Policy should
be made to the Claims Division at (847) 491-5582.
What
can I expect from Northwestern University if I am injured at work?
The University will pay for medical treatment and will pay you for time
lost because of the injury. The University will also make every effort to
return you to work as quickly as possible, either to your regular job or
to duties defined by your physical capabilities during rehabilitation.
How
much will I be paid if I am injured at work and unable to return to my
regular duties?
Injured employees who are unable to work in any capacity are entitled
to "temporary total disability" (TTD) payments equal to 2/3 of their normal
salary with a maximum that is currently $885.53 per week (this figure
is adjusted for inflation periodically by the Illinois Industrial Commission).
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act states that TTD payments shall
not be made for the employee's first three days off work unless the employee
is off ten or more days, however Northwestern University does pay full-time
employees for the first three days off. TTD payments are non-taxable and
are made bi-weekly on regular University pay days. TTD payments are based
on time reports so it is essential that a copy of the initial time report
and any subsequent time reports be sent by the employee's supervisor to
the Claims Division for all pay periods during which an employee is entitled
to receive TTD. Employees who return to a modified duty position will
be paid 100% of their normal salary.
What
about benefits?
Personal floating holidays, sick time, and vacation do not accrue while
an employee is on temporary total disability. Because the Payroll Division
of Human Resources does not issue TTD checks, deductions for benefits
such as health and dental insurance, life insurance, accidental death
and dismemberment insurance, credit union, union dues, and the retirement
plan are not made. It is thus the injured employee's responsibility to
make sure that he or she makes payment to the Benefits Division, the Credit
Union, and/or the employee's union to ensure continued coverages. Benefits
do accrue normally for persons on modified duty.
What
type of accidents need to be reported?
All accidents and injuries, even if no medical attention is required,
must be reported to your supervisor. By failing to report an accident
you jeopardize your workers' compensation benefits, especially in the
event symptoms do not appear for an extended period of time.
Are
all injuries at work considered workers' compensation?
No. To be a workers' compensation case (compensable) the injury must be
job related and arise as a result of one's work activities. Examples of
injuries sustained that may not be compensable are: injuries while on
break or at lunch; injuries from falls when entering the workplace; injuries
sustained during intentional violations of safety rules or from starting
a fight with a co-worker; and injuries sustained while impaired by drugs
or alcohol. This is a rather complicated legal area that frequently changes
with new court rulings. All Northwestern cases are carefully reviewed
and written notification is made to employees when the case is deemed
non-compensable. Claim denials can be appealed to the Director of Risk
Management.
Can
I see my own doctor?
Yes. The Workers' Compensation Act requires employers to pay for up to
two physicians, other than the employer's designated providers, selected
by employees for treatment of work related injuries. It is important to
note that payment to an employee-selected physician can only be made upon
receipt by the University of a medical report from that physician. If
medical reports are not provided, payment remains the employee's responsibility.
What
do I do with medical bills and/or doctor's reports?
All medical bills and physician's reports should be forwarded to the Claims
Division at 2020 Ridge Avenue, Evanston Campus. If you have already paid
a bill for a doctor visit, prescription, etc., submit a receipt showing
that payment has been made and you will be reimbursed.
Will
I be paid for work time taken when I go for follow-up treatment (doctor
visits, physical therapy, etc.)?
Full-time employees will be paid for visits to University-designated providers.
Those employees seeking treatment from providers other than those designated
by the University will not be paid for treatment during work hours, however
they may use sick time for this purpose. Part-time and temporary employees
must use sick time, if available, for all follow-up visits to medical
providers during working hours.
What
should I do with bills I might receive from collection agencies?
There are two main reasons that you may receive a bill from a collection
agency. The first is when a treating physician or hospital fails to submit
required medical reports to the University. If this happens, forward the
bill to the Claims Division. The University will submit a second request
to the medical provider, however, payment will only be made upon receipt
of medical status reports. It should be noted that the University-recommended
medical provider, Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health, invoices the
University directly so employees should never see either a bill or collection
notice from Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health. The second situation
in which you may see a bill from a collection agency occurs when a University
preferred provider organization (PPO) who has contracted with the University
to discount bills, receives the agreed upon discounted payment and fails
to credit a patient's account for the discount taken. Under these circumstances,
submit the collection notice to the Claims Division so the problem can
be resolved as quickly as possible.
In the event you have any other questions regarding the University's Workers'
Compensation Program, work status, doctor's appointments, bills, benefits,
pay status, etc., call either the Claims Division: (847) 491-5582, or
the Office of Risk Management: (847) 491-5610.
Northwestern
University
Office of Risk Management
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