Advanced Orthopedic Clinic Services

Injured Illinois Worker Services

Options for Injured Illinois Workers

You get injured on the job. What next? The company’s policy may stipulate that you find your own medical care or go to a company doctor. In Illinois, you have the right under the worker’s comp law to two doctors of your choice, regardless of company policy. Your initial options include an emergency room visit, scheduling an appointment with your family doctor, or finding a specialist suggested by a buddy or perhaps picking one from the phone book. Work policy may direct you to treat with a contract medical provider. In any case it is high priority that your initial visit takes place within a very short time following your injury and that you clearly document the specifics of injury with the company and doctor. A proper “paper trail” is of the greatest importance.

Regrettably, many delays are built in to our present health care system. One thing is certain: you don’t want a painful wait for your diagnostic work-up and treatment. Real Injury = Real Pain. When you’re hurting, Tylenol or ibuprophen just doesn’t cut it.

The one thing our health care system is really good at delivering – is a big thick slice of frustration topped off with a super-size scoop of pain!

At AOC, we understand your needs and frustrations – Dr. Miller has served hundreds of injured workers since 1982. AOC streamlines your evaluation and treatment, selecting from a variety of the best specialty providers.  This is possible because we are not locked into provider contracts. We work as your personal agent to get you the best care as early as possible. If we can’t provide it for you, we’ll find someone who can.  In contrast to some of our competitors, at AOC we detail the options and you choose. It’s your body – consider us as your own expert subcontractor – and you’re the boss!

For the record... while all this testing and treatment is going on, we’ll use the latest guidelines to provide you legal, effective pain-relief…not just “take two Tylenol or ibuprophen and follow up in the office.”

Let us assume, Heaven forbid, that you have a serious injury that requires surgery. Dr. Miller, with over a quarter century of surgical experience, has a pretty good sense of the best techniques and surgeons for your problem. This might include a local surgeon or it might mean a referral to Wash U, SLU or a West County surgeon. Your choice – well, err, with of course this “fine print”: Within insurance company limitations.

Dr. Miller is very familiar with the latest orthopedic surgical options and looks forward to discussing the surgical details with you. He believes in the “educated consumer” and showing the patient an actual surgical text (shop manual!) describing the procedure.

AOC can help treat non-emergency work-related problems as well. Carpal tunnel syndrome, presenting with sleep-disturbing numbness, pain and weakness in the fingers, can be documented with AOC’s nerve testing equipment. This same instrument can also evaluate sciatica or a “pinched nerve” – that shooting pain and burning in your leg that comes along with a back injury.  It also checks the cause of pain, weakness and numbness in your arms. Whatever the source your neck and back pain, AOC offers you some pretty effective treatment options before lying down on the operating table. Spine surgery patients: the satisfied keep quiet; the disappointed tell horror stories.

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