When someone is recovering from a work-related injury, their care often involves multiple providers, treatments, and decisions along the way. In some cases, the treating provider may want additional insight about a patient’s symptoms, diagnosis, or next steps in medical management or rehabilitation.
That’s where Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at RIW can help.
A work injury PM&R consultation visit allows our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians to evaluate a patient and provide specialized recommendations back to the patient’s primary treating provider. The goal is simple: help patients get the right care at the right time so they can move forward in their recovery.
What Is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Consultation?
A PM&R consultation is a specialized medical evaluation. RIW physicians maintain certification through the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, with additional training and experience in areas including pain, brain injury medicine, and considerations for return to work.
During the visit, the physician meets directly with the patient, reviews their medical history, and discusses their symptoms, concerns, and recovery progress. After the evaluation, the physician provides a detailed summary and recommendations to the patient’s treating provider.
These recommendations may address questions such as:
- Clarifying a diagnosis
- Identifying additional testing that may be helpful
- Suggesting treatment options or rehabilitation therapies
- Evaluating medications or symptom management strategies
- Determining whether a specialized rehabilitation program may benefit the patient
In this way, the consultation supports both the patient and their provider by offering an additional layer of expertise.
At RIW, we also have physicians with particular expertise in brain injury medicine and concussions, which can be valuable for a treating provider seeking guidance on whether a patient’s symptoms stem from a concussion, whiplash, or another work-related cause.
Personalized Evaluations
Consultation recommendations are individualized because each patient’s experience with injury is different.
Additionally, recovery from a work injury doesn't always follow a straight path. Sometimes progress slows despite ongoing treatment—and the reasons aren't always clear.
RIW physicians work to identify what may be standing in the way, whether that's an unanswered diagnostic question, a treatment approach that needs adjusting, considerations for important concurrent conditions, or psychological and social factors that haven't yet been addressed.
It may also be appropriate for people to have a PM&R consultation early in their recovery process, within the first few months after their injury. Others may be much further along in their recovery journey, sometimes seeking additional guidance after trying multiple treatments. Our Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians offer individualized consultations regardless of the duration since injury.
Patients come from a wide range of professions and work environments, which can influence both the nature of their injury and their rehabilitation needs. Because of this, consultation visits are designed to address not only provider clinical questions but also each patient’s specific questions and concerns.
During the visit, patients may ask about:
- Their diagnosis and what it means for recovery
- The anatomy behind their symptoms
- Treatment options they may not have explored yet
- Strategies that could help them progress in rehabilitation
By tailoring each evaluation to the patient’s situation, RIW physicians aim to provide clear and meaningful guidance, education, and support for next steps in recovery of function and health.
