California Workers' Compensation: Reporting a Claim, Medical Treatment and Follow-up

Employees

If injured at work, please follow the steps below:

  1. Report your injury immediately
  2. Obtain medical care promptly
  3. Follow Up

Reporting your injury

  • Notify your supervisor immediately that you were injured
  • If your supervisor is not available, contact Sedgwick's workers' compensation injury report line at 877-6UC-RPRT (877-682-7778). ** If your supervisor is available they may request that you report your injury via this report line
  • Ensure your local workers' compensation department is notified

Obtaining prompt medical care

If emergency treatment is required:

  • Have 911 contacted if needed
  • Go to the nearest emergency room if needed
  • Report the injury to your supervisor as soon as possible (follow the steps above)
  • For follow-up care, go to your location's designated medical clinic

For Non-emergent care:

  • Immediately report the injury to your supervisor (follow the steps above)
  • If prior to your injury you have pre-designated a personal physician for the purposes of treating you specifically for an industrial injury, promptly seek treatment from that physician.
  • If you have not pre-designated a personal physician prior to your injury, promptly seek treatment from one of your location's designated medical clinics (Your local workers' compensation office can direct you to the proper clinic).

Your follow-up care and responsibilities

  • Comply with the treatment regimen of your treating physician
  • Ensure you keep your supervisor and Sedgwick claims administrator appraised of your prognosis and work status
  • If your treating physician certifies you for disability (takes you off work):
    • Provide your supervisor with medical certification of any and all disability leave dates.
    • Provide your supervisor with medical certification of any and all future changes in disability leave dates

It is very important that you keep your Unit Supervisor informed of your leave dates. Your Supervisor will need copies of your treating physician's certificate(s) stating the date(s) of your medical disability. Your supervisor should also be informed of all future changes in those dates. Failure to provide this information may delay your Workers' Compensation payments and/or affect your other insurance coverage.

Supervisors

If an employee is injured at work, please follow the steps below:

Emergency

  • Call 911 if needed
  • Call the ambulance if necessary
  • Call your local workers' compensation contact as soon as possible to report all serious injuries
  • Remove the equipment from service (if applicable)
  • Tag the equipment for identification (if applicable)
  • Immediately report the injury to the Sedgwick workers' compensation injury report line at 877-6UC-RPRT (877-682-7778) and your local workers' compensation office

Non-emergency

Upon knowledge of an injury you must:

  • Arrange medical care for your injured employee:
    • Ask the employee if they have a signed pre-designated physician form on file. If so, direct your employee to their physician (this should be confirmed with your local workers' compensation office). If not, direct your employee to your location's designated medical clinic.
  • Remove the equipment from service (if applicable)
  • Tag the equipment for identification (if applicable)
  • Immediately report the injury to the Sedgwick workers' compensation injury report line at 877-6UC-RPRT (877-682-7778) and your local workers' compensation office.

Follow-up

  • Encourage your employee to comply with their physician's treatment plan and work restrictions (if any)
  • Stay in contact with your employee
  • Respond to inquiries from your local workers' compensation office and the University's claims administrator, Sedgwick

If your employee loses time from work:

  • Immediately notify your local workers' compensation office, your EDB Preparer/Departmental Personnel Assistant (DPA) and Sedgwick

If your employee is released to modified or alternative work:

  • Make every effort to reduce lost workdays by providing medically appropriate modified or alternative duties during the transitional stages of your employee's medical recovery.
    • Contact your local workers' compensation office for assistance and consultation in designing transitional/modified work.
    • The day your employee returns to work, notify your local workers' compensation office and Sedgwick to prevent overpayment of disability benefits.

By taking the above actions, supervisor will:

  • Minimize the severity of the employee's injury.
  • Prevent future injuries by maintaining a safe work environment.
  • Avoid legal fines and penalties being assessed against their departments.
  • Assure rapid provision of compensation benefits where due.