It's a good thing Punxsutawney Phil isn't a doctor...

Punxsutawney Phil has prognosticated that there will be six more weeks of winter.  Apparently, this is not just a Pennsylvania thing -- we must give a shout out to Birmingham Bill in Alabama, who apparently this year has deferred his recommendation to Phil.

You're probably wondering where we're going with this.  This annual tradition is not unlike the course of a workers' compensation claim -- hear me out.

An injured worker and their employer are often left to wait and see what the doctor says at the next appointment.  We're left waiting to learn if the injured worker will be out of work for another six weeks or if they will be release to modified duty.

Sometimes, as in the case of Birmingham Bill, the doctor defers the disability determination to another physician (enter Punxsutawney Phil).  This can lead to more frustration for the injured worker and employer who simply want to know what is going to happen next. 

Sometimes attorneys get involved (as evidenced in the Washington Post article I referenced earlier).
This can cause additional delays and confusion if all parties are not on the same page.

Alas, the injured worker is left to sit at home and watch re-runs of Groundhog Day. Not that Bill Murray isn't entertaining, but like the movie depicts -- the same old, day in, day out routine can wear on a person.

Aside from getting someone else to press the "snooze button," there are some simple things employers and injured workers can do to avoid the repetitiveness and delay associated with the quest for a release to return to work (restricted or otherwise).

• Provide a modified and pre-injury job description or list of tasks at the first doctors visit.
• Clarify early on who will be addressing the injured worker's ability to return to work (the surgeon or the treating physician?)
• Request treatment and recovery projections at each office visit.  Additionally, clarify some of the things that may delay recovery so that everyone can plan accordingly.
• Communicate the availability of modified work often!  Don't leave it up to the doctor's office to remember that you're an employer who can offer modified duty restrictions.
• If the delays seem unreasonable, consider obtaining a second opinion (if that option is available).  Like Birmingham Bill, sometimes you must consult with another colleague.