Opinion ID: 1637264
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Further Treatment for the 1997 Shoulder Injury

Text: Because ICS refused to provide further treatment for her shoulder, Landman returned to Dr. Mammen. On July 14, 1999, Dr. Mammen referred her to Dr. Dusek. She did not see Dr. Dusek, however, until August 11th due to the doctor's schedule. It was stipulated that from August 11, 1999, to March 3, 2000, Landman was temporarily and totally disabled because of the shoulder injury. She began physical therapy in October 1999. In November 1999, Dr. Dusek believed further physical therapy would be necessary for future improvement and the ability to return to work. Landman continued with the therapy until January 2000, which resulted in some increase in strength and range of motion. But her pain level was still high. Dr. Dusek recommended surgery to relieve the pain, but he was unable to perform the surgery due to the poor healing quality of Landman's tissue. By February 2000, Dr. Dusek did not think that the shoulder would get well, but recommended that Landman continue therapy for several weeks to regain what strength and mobility she could. ICS eventually agreed that if its orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Petkovich, found that the shoulder symptoms were work-related, it would provide treatment and temporary disability. Landman agreed that she would refrain from seeking a hardship hearing until receiving Dr. Petkovich's report. Dr. Petkovich examined Landman in February 2000 and concluded that the injury resulted from the July 1997 accident. He recommended additional surgery depending on the outcome of an MRI. Dr. Petkovich sent a copy of his report to ICS. Despite its agreement to provide treatment based on this report, ICS did not give Landman a copy of it. Even after Landman's repeated requests for the report, ICS refused to provide it. Landman underwent additional physical therapy on her shoulder in January and March 2000, but she was discharged without achieving the desired increased range of motion and strength. On March 3, 2000, Dr. Dusek declared that Landman was at maximum medical improvement. Landman said that because of her shoulder she could not work from July 15, 1999, through March 3, 2000. By May 2000, ICS had still refused her requests, so Landman went directly to Dr. Petkovich for his report and, after learning his conclusions, filed a request for a hardship hearing. The issuestemporary disability and payment for treatmentwere eventually resolved in mediation and stipulated to at the hearing before the administrative law judge. Eventually, ICS paid temporary total disability for the shoulder injury covering the period immediately after the accident and also for August 11, 1999, to March 3, 2000. But it refused to pay for the period July 14, 1999, through August 10, 1999 (the period between the referral to and examination by Dr. Dusek).