Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic Imaging
The basic rule
Pain is real, but a claim file needs more than a symptom report. Imaging turns “my back hurts” into a documented finding that treatment decisions and claim decisions can be built on.
What We Use and When
• X-ray — fractures, dislocations, alignment, degenerative change, post-injury baseline.
• MRI — soft tissue: discs, rotator cuff, meniscus, ligaments, nerve compression.
• CT — complex fractures and bone detail where X-ray isn’t enough.
• Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCV) — nerve involvement, radiating symptoms, numbness or weakness in the hands or legs.
• Ultrasound — certain soft tissue and tendon evaluations.
Getting it Authorized
Advanced imaging usually needs authorization from the employer’s insurance carrier before it’s scheduled. We write the request with the clinical findings that justify it, submit it, and follow up. If it’s denied, we document the medical necessity again and tell you plainly where things stand so you and your attorney can decide what to do next.
What This Means For Your Claims
Objective findings do two things. They tell us what we’re actually treating, so you’re not doing six weeks of therapy for the wrong problem. And they give the carrier, your attorney, and the district office something concrete to work from. Imaging results are not a matter of opinion in the way a symptom report can be argued to be.
We make sure every study we order is read, documented, and incorporated into your reports, not just filed away.
Common Questions
Who pays for the imaging?
Authorized medical care for an accepted longshore injury is the responsibility of the employer or its insurance carrier, not the injured worker. We handle the authorization paperwork on our end.
How fast can I get an MRI?
It depends on authorization turnaround and the imaging center’s schedule. We push on our side and keep you updated instead of leaving you to chase it.
I already had imaging somewhere else. Do I need it repeated?
Usually not. Bring the report and the disc or the portal access, and we’ll review it. Repeating studies without a reason wastes your time and clutters the file.
What we do
We write authorization requests that state what's being asked for, why it's medically necessary, and how it relates to the injury. Because vague requests are the ones that get denied. We respond to carrier and case manager questions within one business day. And we document treatment necessity as we go, so that if there is a dispute, the record already answers it.
Right-to-Choose
Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the injured worker chooses their own treating doctor. There is no network to stay inside of.
Have questions about your claim or need a medical evaluation?