Vague medical certifications

WBartlett

I'm looking for some good ideas to address vague medical certifications from physicians. It seems they rarely give enough information. We have an employee who is out for an indefinite period of time and the MD indicated she can't perform any type of work. We hear from other employees that she is out shopping (but can't make it to the office to pick up a time card). We also heard from a reliable source that the employee has had cosmetic surgery recently while she is on sick leave/FMLA for the other condition. The first condition is a neck/back injury but she apparently could travel in a car for over 5 hours and have cosmetic surgery in a different city.

We have already sent a letter to her MD for clarification with the employee's job description and responsibilities. We may be looking at a different doctor certification. Is this the suggested next move? We really need this employee back at work (even at light duty)

Thanks!

Margaret Morford

I think that you are heading down the right path by paying for a second opinion by another doctor. Be sure you brief the doctor on the above facts when you set up the appointment and arrange to have the bill sent to you to be paid.

Margaret Morford
theHRedge
615-371-8200
[email]mmorford@mleesmith.com[/email]
[url]http://www.thehredge.net[/url]

Janet

I also have had problems with vague medical certs from providers. Frustrating as this is, I have come to believe that it's due simply to the providers not being familiar with the FMLA and its requirements (and also medical offices not having enough time to be thorough). Although I've never worked in a medical office, I can only imagine the paperwork and regulations they must face. And then along comes the FMLA! Sounds like you're on the right track by providing them with additional information. Good luck!

Rockie

I believe most of the time it is a time constraint. MDs get so much of this to complete - some of them are even charging to complete this paperwork.

No, I don't think cosmetic surgery is a covered "illness". I had an issue with an employee once where she was about to run out of FMLA and I called her to just touch base, etc. She told me she was tired of cleaning house and cleaning out closets, so she was looking forward to coming back to work. ( She was too ill to come back to work and sit at her desk, but could do housework and clean out closets.) After our conversation, she had the audacity to try to ask for more time off. I advised her if she didn't feel she could do the strenuous job that she had, we would have to put someone else in her job and maybe she could come back in a part time capacity. We were sorry we couldn't hold her job past 12 weeks, but we would make every effort to place her where we could.

She had a complete turnaround and had a miraculous recovery!

Theresa Gegen TX

Make sure you check the regs on second opinions. I believe that if the company gets one and its different than the first, a third, tie breaker, opinion may be required.

Good Luck!!