I am confused as to why this cwnter is what it is. I will try to explain what I mean. First let me say that both I and my wife are disabled from work and both had OWCP referee Doctors report examinations. We had differant Doctors but it is in how we were treated that raises my eyebrows a bit.
My wife had the first appointment with a DR. Mize. This doctor is so poor he is rated as one star in his own practice office in Dallas. Now believe mw there is no exageration to this story. My wife uses a walker and needs help in everything from dressing to going to the bathroom. She had injured her back while working as a mail carrier.
She was called in to the back I was told I could not go back with her. She used a cane at the time to walk (this was just a matter of weeks before she was put on a walker). The fact she used a cane was never mentioned. She was told to undress and get into a gown. She had to have help to get undressed and dressed by the attending nurse. Again never mentioned in his report.
The exam consisted of the following walk on tippie toes (she couldn't) walk on heels (she couldn't) he laid her down and forcably raised her legs (she cried out in pain but not mentioned in the report) Dr. Mize pushed on her back twice (she again cried out in pain not mentioned in the report). Upon her exit she was in so much pain she was bed ridden until the next day. Her claim was filed in a lower lumbar sprain her treating doctor has stated many time these sprains do not always heal. He has a work capacity thatt states all she can do is sit in a chair.
She noted that when he was talking to her he seemed cold and unintrested in anything she said. When we got her report we found out why. He simply stated the same as the seond opinion Doctor (both paid by OWCP) He said her sprain is healed she has a degree of arthrities in the back but this in not associated with her work and she could go back to work full time 8 hours a day.
Her employer recieved the last page of the report and ordered her back to work and when she asked for accomendation due to her walker her employer told her report to work without it of you will be fired. She reported to work with her walker (she can't get around without it) and heer badge was taken and she was told she would be fired.
She spent a total of 15 minutes with this Dr. Mize and because he really seemed not to care she is now fighting for her job and with OWCP. It was at best no exam at all and she said he spent about five minutes with her. But because he is a referee Doctor (I think he is a quack) what he said goes. Her treating Doctor has said she will never heal and backed it up with a work capacity exam but this was ignored. So know she is fighting against all odds to keep her job or at least her benefits alive so we can survive it looks pretty bleak.
Now I said this was a story of two people. I recieved about two weeks after my wifes exam a notice to report to Churchill Evaluation Centers for a Referee Doctor appointment as well as a work study test. I really don't has to convey my feelings of going there after what happened to my wife.
I arrived at the office expecting a disaster but instead had this happen. I was greeted by my Referee Doctor and he spent about 30 minutes just talking to me about my condition and medications he even made a few jokes and we both had a very pleasant meeting. He asked me to move to the table for examination and spent perhaps 15 minutes doing examinations as well as asking me to perform certain functions. So I had spent almost a hour with my Doctor wheere my wife got 15 minutes over all.
My Doctor notified me that he had agreed my knee surgery failed and then asked me "Do you think you can go back to work full time?" I replied no which was my honest opinion as I also was oin a cane (I am sometimes too proud to use my walker but will if I am going over 100 feet). He stated he did not think so either and then said come back in two days for a work capacity exam. I took the exam which was very difficult for meand very painful. One one test liftong 21 pounds from knee height and placing it at a shoulder level shelp (I was supposed to do three reps)
I tried as hard as I could but before I could get to rep number two which was very dificult my heart rate went from 80 to 143 a clear signal of significant pain. I completed this exam the individual who gave this exam was very friendly and listened to everything I said. It took about three hours to complete the test (this is normal) and I was told my referee Doctor would get the report and I would hear from OWCP as to the results. I left in alot of pain fearing the worst'
I recieved a copy of the report. My use of a cane was reported. My use of a walker for distance was reported. My Gait was reeported, In fact every detail minor to major was recorded. I was told that the condition was permanet and I could work only four hours a day being seated at all times.
You can see it was a night and day experiance however it should be noted my wife is worse off than I. I found it to be stunning the differance in treatment and exam times. While my wife recieved the cold shoulder I was treated like a king and everybody was very friendly.
I can only assume that the Doctor assigned to my wife knew what he was going to say before he ever saw her and she was dommed from the beginning. She had no details of canes or gaits in her report (she has both) nothing was noted of her cries of pain. While if I looked like I was in pain it was noted.
I leave your opinion to you but remember if you are on OWCP the referee Doctor can destroy your well being both financially as well as your employment. Sadly it is plain to see that my wife's Doctor Dr. Mize really did not even try to find the truth he only copied what another Doctor said and did not even make a effort at a examination. I cannot blame Churchill as a while except to say they apparently hire some Doctors who have more intrest in getting paid that doing what they are supposed to do. I can say I fell that my wife (Mexican) may have been a victim of racisim.
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