Federal workers' compensation program basics.
OBJECTIVE
Primary health care providers may not be familiar with the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and Department of Defense regulations that govern injured workers' rights, benefits, and procedures to follow when an injured employee is seen in the military medical treatment facility.


METHODS
The FECA program was examined and each section reviewed to facilitate provider involvement from time of injury to final disposition of a claim and employee return to work. The best practices in case management are highlighted as well.


RESULTS
Several areas of the FECA program require coordination between members of the installation Federal Worker's Compensation team. Areas requiring extensive communication by all team members were emphasized.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful installation FECA programs engage all members of the FECA team in a collaborative fashion to share information, prevent injuries, and keep costs low.
From the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program (Drs Mallon, Grizzell, and Nelson), Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md; and 4725 Albemarle Street NW (Dr Hodgson), Washington DC 20001.
Timothy M
TM
Mallon
Tifani L
TL
Grizzell
Cameron J L
CJ
Nelson
Cameron L
CL
Nelson
Michael
M
Hodgson
D017046:Cost Savings; D035082:Federal Government; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care; D017751:Safety Management; D014481:United States; D059030:United States Department of Defense / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*