Form Twcc 73 – Fill Out and Use This PDF

PART II: WORK STATUS INFORMATION (FULLY COMPLETE ONE INCLUDING ESTIMATED DATES AND DESCRIPTION IN 13(c) AS APPLICABLE)

13.The injured employee’s medical condition resulting from the workers’ compensation injury:

Θ (a) will allow the employee to return to work as of __________ (date) without restrictions.

Θ(b) will allow the employee to return to work as of __________ (date) with the restrictions identified in PART III, which are expected to last through __________ (date).

Θ(c) has prevented and still prevents the employee from returning to work as of __________ (date) and is expected to continue through

__________ (date). The following describes how this injury prevents the employee from returning to work:

PART III: ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS* (ONLY COMPLETE IF BOX 13(b) IS CHECKED)

14. POSTURE RESTRICTIONS (if any):

17. MOTION RESTRICTIONS (if any):

19. MISC. RESTRICTIONS (if any):

Max Hours per day:

0 2 4 6 8

Other

Max Hours per day:

0 2 4 6 8 Other

Θ Max hours per day of work: _______

Standing

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Walking

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ Sit/Stretch breaks of ______ per ______

Sitting

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Climbing stairs/ladders

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ Must wear splint/cast at work

Kneeling/Squatting

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Grasping/Squeezing

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ Must use crutches at all times

Bending/Stooping

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Wrist flexion/extension

Θ ΘΘΘΘ

Θ No driving/operating heavy equipment

Pushing/Pulling

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Reaching

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ Can only drive automatic transmission

Twisting

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Overhead Reaching

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ No work / Θ _____ hours/day work:

Other: ____________

Θ ΘΘ Θ Θ

Keyboarding

ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ in extreme hot/cold environments

Other: _____________ ΘΘΘΘΘ

Θ at heights or on scaffolding

15. RESTRICTIONS SPECIFIC TO (if applicable):

Θ L Hand/Wrist

Θ R Hand/Wrist

Θ Must keep _______________________:

18. LIFT/CARRY RESTRICTIONS (if any):

Θ L Arm

Θ R Arm

Θ Neck

Θ May not lift/carry objects more than ____lbs.

Θ Elevated

Θ Clean & Dry

Θ L Leg

Θ R Leg

Θ Back

for more than ____ hours per day

Θ No skin contact with: ________________

Θ L Foot/Ankle

Θ R Foot/Ankle

Θ May not perform any lifting/carrying

Θ Dressing changes necessary at work

Θ Other: _______________________________

Θ Other:______________________________

Θ No Running

16. OTHER RESTRICTIONS (if any):

20. MEDICATION RESTRICTIONS (if any):

Θ Must take prescription medication(s)

Θ Advised to take over-the-counter meds

Θ Medication may make drowsy (possible

* These restrictions are based on the doctor’s best understanding of the employee’s essential job functions. If a

particular restriction does not apply, it should be disregarded. If modified duty that meets these restrictions is not

Safety/driving issues)

available, the patient should be considered to be off work. Note - these restrictions should be followed outside of work

as well as at work.

PART IV: TREATMENT/FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

21.Work Injury Diagnosis Information: 22. Expected Follow-up Services Include:

ΘEvaluation by the treating doctor on ____________________________ (date) at ____ : ____ am/pm

__________________________________			Θ Referral to/Consult with_______________________ on ____________ (date) at ____ : ____ am/pm
__________________________________			Θ Physical medicine __ X per week for __ weeks starting on __________ (date) at ____ : ____ am/pm
			Θ Special studies (list): __________________________ on __________ (date) at ____ : ____ am/pm
			Θ None. This is the last scheduled visit for this problem. At this time, no further medical care is anticipated.
	Date / Time of Visit	EMPLOYEE’S SIGNATURE		DOCTOR’S SIGNATURE	Visit Type:		Role of Doctor:	Θ Treating doctor
_______________					Θ Initial		Θ Designated doctor	Θ Referral doctor
	Discharge Time				Θ Follow-up		Θ Carrier-selected RME	Θ Consulting doctor
							Θ TWCC-selected RME	Θ Other doctor
TWCC 73 Rev. 06/00)				Rule 129.5		TEXAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION

FORM TWCC-73

WORK STATUS REPORT INSTRUCTIONS

PART I: GENERAL INFORMATION - Contains space to record general information about the employee and the doctor/clinic. This section includes space to record a high-level generic description of the injury or condition (e.g. broken right arm, strained left knee, etc) and how it occurred. Also contains space to record the name and facsimile number or email address of the insurance carrier (carrier) and the employer, as well as the date of transmission. This space is intended to eliminate the need for a separate facsimile cover page. Because this information is intended primarily for transmission purposes, the report may be provided to the injured employee (employee) at the time of the examination, even if the information required in this section is not yet available.

PART II: WORK STATUS INFORMATION - The doctor is required to indicate the employee’s current work status. There are

three choices: able to work without restrictions; able to work with restrictions; and prevented from returning to work.

If the doctor believes that the employee can only work with restrictions or is prevented from returning to work, the doctor is required to provide an estimated date of expiration for the restrictions. These estimates are required to enhance claims management and to provide the employer with information that can be used to plan work coverage and plan for the employee’s return to work (whether with or without restrictions). An estimated expiration is speculative in nature. The further the date is projected, the less accurate it may be. Estimations are not binding and may be changed as needed based upon the condition and progress of the employee by filing a subsequent Work Status Report. Doctors need to provide reasonable estimates based upon the nature of the employee’s injury.

In addition, a doctor who believes that an employee is prevented from returning to work is required to provide a specific explanation of how the condition prevents the employee from returning to work. One of the goals of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act is to ensure a speedy return to employment which is safe, meaningful, and commensurate with the abilities of the employee. It is the responsibility of the doctor treating or examining an injured employee to identify what the employee may be able to safely perform. It is not the doctor’s responsibility to ensure that the employer has a modified duty position that meets those restrictions - that is the employer’s responsibility if the employer chooses to try to accommodate the restrictions.

PART III: ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS - If the doctor indicates that the employee is able to work with restrictions, the doctor is to indicate those restrictions in this section. The doctor is only supposed to indicate what restrictions are in place because of the workers’ compensation injury. Any restrictions that may have existed due to other conditions are assumed to remain and should not be duplicated here. The doctor should go over the restrictions with the employee at the time the report is provided.

The section was designed to include check boxes for common restrictions that may apply to the employee. If a box is not checked, it is assumed that there is no restriction on that activity. Also, if no specific body part is indicated in box #15, then it should be understood that the restrictions are whole body restrictions.

PART IV: DIAGNOSIS/FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION - Provides general diagnosis information and provides upcoming appointment information (if known at time of filing report) so that the carrier can better manage the claim and the employer can be aware of time where the employee might not be available for work. In addition, providing this information may reduce calls from carriers and employers seeking the information. However, doctors need ensure that the diagnosis information provided to the employer is at a general level and does not violate any confidentiality laws relating to the employee’s privacy rights.

The Work Status Report is primarily designed to be filed by the treating or referral doctor. However, other doctors can and will occasionally need to file this report. The following describes the various roles that doctors can play within the system:

	Treating: Doctor chosen by and primarily responsible for employee's	Referral: Doctor who was selected by the treating doctor to treat one
	injury-related health care.	or more aspects of the employee’s medical condition.
	Consulting: Doctor who was selected by the treating doctor to	Carrier-selected RME: Doctor selected by the insurance carrier.
	provide an opinion on the employee’s medical condition.
	Designated: Doctor selected by the Commission to evaluate whether	TWCC-selected RME: Doctor selected by TWCC.
	the employee’s medical condition has improved sufficiently to allow a
		Other: Doctor who fits none of the other descriptions.
	return to work (only for Supplemental Income Benefits claims).

Basic Instructions - Provide to injured employee at time of examination and fax or electronically transmit to: insurance carrier and employer by the end of the second working day following the date of the examination. Report

must be filed after initial visit, when there is a change in work status or a substantial change in activity restrictions, and on

the schedule requested by or through the carrier (not to exceed one report every two weeks). Also file within 7 days of receiving functional job descriptions from the employer or a Work Status Report from a Required Medical Examination doctor that indicates that the employee is able to return to work with or without restrictions.

TWCC 73 Rev. 06/00)

Rule 129.5

TEXAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION