The confusing sets of regulations governing medical issues in the federal workplace challenge even the most experienced HR and workers' comp professionals. These challenges are particularly prevalent when it comes to medical information, when practitioners need to balance issues such as work-related injuries, the FMLA and reasonable accommodation.

This course familiarizes practitioners with the practical aspects of legally acquiring objective medical information from federal employees who have applied for employment benefits under various statutes and regulations such as workers’ compensation benefits, reasonable accommodation and absence from duty due to medical-related issues.

After completing this course, you’ll have learned how to:

• Identify the various situations encountered in workers’ comp cases that require agencies to obtain, review, consider and act on objective medical evidence.
• Define the distinctions between the types of medical evidence required and the employee’s obligation to provide such information, distinguishing between cases involving workers’ comp and reasonable accommodation and other issues arising out of federal employment.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of what is permissible and impermissible in seeking, accessing, reviewing, or sharing employee medical information.
• Properly apply procedures to avoid having an agency decision overturned by a third-party appeal process, and learning to identify those third parties.
• Address common exam-related questions from managers and employees.
• Compose a proper letter ordering a medical exam.