In Minnesota if you sustain an injury on the job and you are unable to perform your work duties or you are terminated from employment due to a work injury, you may be eligible for the services of a QRC, a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant. Qualified Rehabilitation Consultants are responsible for both vocational services and medical management services. With regard to the medical management, QRCs do things such as attend your medical appointments, prepare various documentation and supply it to the insurer, the other attorneys involved, and the employer. They act as an intermediary between you and your doctors. Additionally, with regard to the vocational services a QRC will help you fill out job logs, help you with your resume, they help you prepare for interviews. Overall, they help you return to what is called suitable gainful employment.
If you are not represented by an attorney, you probably don’t know that you have the right to choose your own Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant. Within the first 60 days of being assigned a QRC, you have the absolute right to switch. After the 60-day period it becomes much more difficult to switch your QRC and various problems can arise if you stay with your insurance company assigned QRC. For example, they might pressure your doctor into lifting your restrictions too early. They might try to minimize your injuries. They might try to send you back to work before you are ready, physically, to return to full duty.
That is why it is important to contact an attorney once you are assigned a QRC. We can help you choose the right QRC that will be an advocate for you. If you have a Minnesota workers’ compensation claim, contact us today at Meuser Law Office, P.A. for a free, no-obligation legal consultation. Our knowledgeable attorneys will help you understand the often confusing workers’ compensation benefit law and ensure you receive the full benefits you are entitled to.