Workers' Compensation

Responsibility for the workers’ compensation program at a Parish, School or other Diocesan entity is the Pastor’s. The Pastor will have the right to assign this duty to a member of his staff or, in the case of a location for which he is the administrator, to the staff member responsible for managing the various insurance responsibilities for the location.

Duties that are part of the workers’ compensation process include:

• Educate employees about their rights to care when injured on the job. This includes who the employee reports injuries to and to make it clear that the employer directs the care for a work-related injury.

• Identify where to send injured employees.  In the Greater Des Moines area, we use the Occupational Medicine clinics through Unity Point. We encourage the other locations to identify a provider in your area.  If the injury requires emergency care, always call 911.

First Report of Injury (FROI)

The designated staff member at the location is to complete the First Report of Injury (FROI) – this is a form completed when an employee is injured during the course of his or her work.  The FROI is to be completed the same day the employee has been injured with the employee when possible.  This form can be found in the section below, as well as the directions to complete it. Fill out as much of the form as you are able so you can get it turned in timely. Assured Partners has created a video that provides detailed instruction on completing the FROI.

Completing the Accident Report

An accident report is to be completed as soon as possible (ideally, the same day) and should include the employee’s supervisor and the designated safety staff member so that we can remedy the safety issue quickly when possible.

Receiving Patient Status Reports

The designated work comp contact at the work location will receive the patient status reports from the employee who receives them from health care provider assigned to manage the care of the employee as he or she recovers.  An employee may be able to return to work, be off for a period of time and or have limited duty/work restrictions based on the severity of the injury. The Director of HR and Safe Environment with the Diocese is also available to provide advice and directions if there are any questions about an employee’s limited duty or the need to be off during the recovery of a work-related injury.  Call 515-237-5085 with any questions.

The workers’ compensation provider will keep in contact with the employee, especially when an injury is more severe.  If the location is not sure what is going on, the Director of HR and Safe Environment with the Diocese is available to provide direction, especially when the employee needs to be off of work or has work restrictions that may cause challenges at the work location.

Returning to Work

It is important to follow the back-to-work instructions provided by the health care provider when an employee can continue to work. The employee may have restrictions that you are required to implement. If the job the injured employee performs cannot be done because of the restrictions, please contact the Director of Human Resources and Safe Environment immediately at 515-237-5085.

First Report of Injury Forms

• Workers' Compensation FROI Instructions
• Workers' Compensation FROI Form
  
• Unity Point Health Locations List

Accident Investigation Reporting

• Workers' Compensation WC Claims - Instructions and Procedures

If you need assistance with Workers' Compensation and diocesan staff are unavailable, please contact Alison Miner at AssuredPartners at 1-800-747-5652.