Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: What is a Worker Care Clinic?
A: A Worker Care Clinic is a pilot clinic that will provide injured workers with an option for timely access to medical treatment by physicians with a knowledge of workplace injuries.
There is currently one Winnipeg-based Worker Care Clinic, KALO Medical Clinic, located at 1107 Munroe Avenue.
A Worker Care Clinic has onsite x-ray and focuses on new, acute workplace injuries such as sprains, strains and other minor injuries.
Q: What is the goal of a Worker Care Clinic?
A: Worker Care Clinic is designed for individuals who are hurt at work and sustain minor injuries. It helps workers and employers by giving injured workers timely access to primary healthcare services at a selected clinic in Manitoba to support safe and suitable return to work.
Q: Does a doctor at a Worker Care Clinic work for the WCB? Could there be a bias towards returning the worker to work too soon?
A: The doctor at a Worker Care Clinic does not work for the WCB. Worker Care Clinic doctors have expertise in dealing with work-related injuries, the WCB, and best practices in return to work.
Workers
Q: Am I required to see a Worker Care Clinic physician?
A: No, attending a Worker Care Clinic is optional. You may go to your own family doctor or any doctor, physiotherapist or chiropractor, if you prefer. Please attend a hospital for any serious injuries that require Emergency Room (ER) or urgent care treatment.
Q: Can I follow-up with my own family doctor?
A: You can attend a Worker Care Clinic for follow-up, or choose to follow-up with your family doctor.
Q: What are the benefits of seeing a Worker Care Clinic physician instead of my regular family doctor?
A: Worker Care Clinic doctors have expertise in dealing with work-related injuries, the WCB, and best practices in return to work. They may be a quicker option if you are unable to get in to see your family doctor in a timely manner.
Q: What if I don’t have a regular family doctor?
A: One of the advantages of a Worker Care Clinic is that they offer a timely option for medical treatment for an injured worker who does not already have a family physician.
Q: What if my employer does not provide me with the recommended modified or alternate duties?
A: Contact the WCB if you have a work-related injury and your employer is unwilling or unable to accommodate you with modified or alternate duties.
Q: Can I visit a Worker Care Clinic if I see my family doctor first for my work-related injury?
A: A Worker Care Clinic is designed to provide early medical service after a workplace injury. It is under these circumstances that the Worker Care Clinic can best create a plan to support your recovery and help you return to work.
Q: Who do Worker Care Clinic doctors work for?
A: Worker Care Clinic doctors do not work for the WCB or for your employer. They are a fee for service clinic that has an agreement with the WCB to provide Worker Care Clinic services.
Employers
Q: Should my worker attend an emergency room or urgent care facility, or a Worker Care Clinic?
A: A worker should attend an emergency room or urgent care facility if the injury is severe and requires ER or urgent care treatment, or if the injury is beyond the scope of services provided by the Worker Care Clinic.
Q: Who pays the cost of the visit if the claim is denied?
A: The WCB will cover the cost of the first Worker Care Clinic visit if the claim is denied. If there are follow-up visits while a claim awaits a decision, the WCB will cover the cost of the visits until a decision is made. Costs associated with denied claims are excluded from employer experience.
Q: How do the costs associated with Worker Care Clinic visits affect my premiums?
A: Costs associated with attending a Worker Care Clinic are a part of an employer's claim costs similar to any other healthcare provider. The cost of attending a Worker Care Clinic is slightly higher than a typical clinic but much less than treatment at an emergency department of a hospital.
It is expected that, over time, worker access and treatment by a Worker Care Clinic will result in improved outcomes and reduced claim costs to employers by ensuring a timely and safe return to health and work for the injured worker.
Healthcare Providers
Q: What is a Worker Care Clinic?
A: A Worker Care Clinic is a pilot initiative that is expected to result in a better coordination of return to work between healthcare providers, employers, injured workers and the WCB of Manitoba.
The aim of the initiative is to provide injured workers with timely access to healthcare providers with expertise in treating workplace injuries, with the goal of facilitating a safe and suitable return to work for injured workers.
Q: When does the Worker Care Clinic pilot start?
A: The pilot will start on April 17, 2023, and is expected to run until year end 2024. Once the pilot is completed, findings will be assessed to determine next steps.
Q: Will injured workers be required to see a Worker Care Clinic physician?
A: No, attending a Worker Care Clinic is optional to the worker. They may go to their own family doctor or any doctor who they prefer.
The Worker Care Clinic will report all injuries they treat from workers to the WCB.