What are the benefits of an OIS provider vs. regular family physician for employees and employers?

An occupational health specialist will focus on the prevention and management of workplace injuries
and illnesses.  They promote health and safety in the workplace and encourage a safe and timely
return to work.  Special training is given to OIS providers to understand the different aspects of
workplace injuries/illness and how to effectively deal with the issues of returning to work.  OIS
physicians also have the benefit of ordering specialized tests including MRI and CT scans without
the approval of WCB when medically necessary.   Most testing is performed within 24 – 48 hours of the
request.

A family physician specializes in general health. They don’t normally have any specialized training in
workplace injuries and illnesses. Although they do have the same wants of having you return to
work in a safe and timely manner, the process on which to get there may be very different.
Specialized testing done thru family physicians can take weeks even months to obtain permission to
order. The case needs to be accepted to WCB first, seen by an adjudicator, assigned a case manager
and the case reviewed all before getting the ok to order the same testing that takes OIS physicians
24 – 48 hours to obtain.