Depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury, a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) is one of the benefits you’re entitled to once you start receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Not every individual who is hurt on the job receives a QRC, and that’s because there are certain requirements a workers’ compensation case must meet to receive a QRC. However, many insurance companies won’t provide a qualified rehabilitation consultant unless the injured worker requests one. 

What Is a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant (QRC)?

A qualified rehabilitation consultant is one of the benefits you’re entitled to as an injured worker. A QRC is registered in the state of Minnesota to provide assistance to injured workers; they are the embodiment of vocational rehabilitation. 

The job of a QRC is to come alongside the injured worker and provide assistance to the injured worker. A QRC will come with you to appropriate doctor’s visits to collect medical documentation, gather medical information, and act as a liaison between you, the insurance company, and your employer. They’ll send all of the necessary and appropriate information to each party involved in the workers’ compensation case, so you don’t have to. Keep in mind, a QRC is not a doctor, lawyer, or therapist. 

Responsibilities of a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant

A great way QRC is helpful to an injured worker is to communicate between your medical treatment team and the insurance company. If you were to need an MRI completed as a part of your treatment, the QRC will call up the insurance company with the MRI order and get the insurer to pay for the MRI. In addition, QRCs are able to get medical documentation a lot faster than other parties. 

After your injury and your treatment, you’ll reach a phase where you’re ready to return back to work. In some cases, you’ll be able to return back to work without any restrictions. In the instance where you do have restrictions, your employer may or may not be able to work with your restrictions. If your employer isn’t able to work with your restrictions, a QRC will try to work with your employer to identify any modifications that could be made to keep you in the position.

However, if there aren’t any modifications that can be made to the position, the QRC will continue to work with you. They’ll help you find a new job. In certain circumstances, a QRC will work to help you go back to school and get trained in something new.

Requirements to Work With a QRC

Requirements to Work With a QRC

Not every workers’ compensation case will receive a QRC. To qualify for a QRC, your injury needs to have caused some restrictions. If you have a reduction in your earning capacity, you’ll qualify to work with a QRC. The law states that you have the option to pick the qualified rehabilitation consultant you want to work with. When sorting through the available selections of QRCs, you should work with someone who is kind, competent, and trustworthy. 

However, most injured workers aren’t aware of what a QRC is. This is when it’s beneficial to work along with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Your attorney will help you sort through the list of available QRCs. There are other times where an insurance company will assign you a QRC, but assigned QRCs aren’t always neutral. 

What to Expect When Working With a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant (QRC)

The services offered by a qualified rehabilitation consultant are essential to your recovery as an injured worker. If you’ve been injured at work and aren;t sure if your injury qualifies you to work with a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC), contact Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law today to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer!