• Over Exertion
  • Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Slips, Trips & Falls
  • Environmental Injuries (heat)
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Soft tissue injuries, Foreign Body Injuries
  • Muscular Skeletal Injuries (Sprains, Strains, Fractures, Tendonitis)
  • Skin – Contact Injuries, Burns
  • Inhalation Injuries
  • Minor eye injuries
  • Back injuries

The standard procedure to be utilized when a disease process escalates beyond the capability of the employee health clinic is to refer that patient to the appropriate specialist. That specialist will participate with the city’s health insurance plan and will be communicated with the City Risk & Human Resources department (as applicable). A referral is required for specialists and prescriptions for additional testing (MRI, CT scan) which are both sent to the applicable City’s TPA for approval and to set up appointments.

The role of the clinic ARNP, with the advice of the supervising physician, is to work in collaboration with the City’s case manager to ensure that the workman’s compensation cases are handled in an efficient and timely manner. DWC-25s will be filed and returned to the city’s risk manager or their designee in 90 minutes.

The after-hours call center, once contacted, will direct the injured employee’s supervisor. This could be a local worker’s comp injury facility or urgent care or in the extreme, the emergency room. A pre-designated facility suitable for care of the employee will be established based on the gravity of the injury.

Case management is triggered as soon as TCMAi medical staff is notified, by the City Risk Manager or their designee, as well as presentation by the patient (City Employee) to the Employee Health Center.

Our staff from front desk receptionist, to medical assistant, to healthcare providers all have extensive experience in running firefighter physical exams. We have a system in place that allows for quality, efficient physical exams with fast turnaround times. We have designated occupational medicine space to allow for the multiple components of the exam.

Equipment needed:

  • Blood pressure cuffs
  • Stethoscopes
  • Blood drawing equipment
  • EKG machine
  • Spirometer
  • Vision screen,
  • Fecal occult blood screening cards,
  • Audiometer up to 8000 HZ,
  • Syringes/needles for immunizations and PPD screenings.
  • Chest x-rays, Stress Tests, and MRI’s outsourced when needed.

TCMAi has contracts with local laboratories and imaging facilities to get the best prices to pass the savings on to our clients.

Chapter 4 of the NFPA 1582 standard addresses the roles and responsibilities of the medical provider, the credentials of the provider, and standards that are required for this role. Our providers specialize in occupational medicine and utilizes the latest NFPA 1582 code standards when performing physical exams. It also addresses medical record keeping, which is kept in our electronic medical records. Tracking and graphing annual exams, allow to identify if any changes are occurring in the physical exam, vision, hearing or lung capacity screenings.

All of our facilities that currently run fire fighter exams follow the standards set forth by Chapter 6 and 7 which include all of the components that are required in the firefighter exam, what diseases to screen for, the frequency they are performed, and what disease state/injury would allow a candidate to be medically qualified or not. Our providers are specially trained and well versed with this information and owning membership with the NFPA are always educated on the latest changes of the guidelines.

Any Firefighter that presents with signs or symptoms of HTN, TB, or Heart disease would trigger the provider to utilize the Heart and Lung Protocol. In consultation with the collaborating physician, the patient would be worked up according to symptoms and the national guidelines. If it is decided the case falls under this statute, Risk Management would immediately be notified and the case would transfer into a workman’s compensation case.

There are no additional charges. Stress tests, MRI’s, etc., will be outsourced and the cost will be passed through without mark up. Furthermore, TCMAi will review local vendors pricing to ensure best pricing for the municipalities.

TCMAi medical records systems allows tracking and reporting on worker’s compensation claims (separately from medical claims) to your administration team.

With what frequency can you provide these reports (Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, and OnRequest)?

Monthly, Quarterly, Annually and on request, specifically tailored to the needs of the municipalities.

What are the available formats for this report?

Narrative, graphic presentations or both.

TCMAi’s staff are trained and certified to collect Chain of Custody urine drug screen and breath alcohol tests under the Department of Transportation’s Federal standard 49 CFR Part 40. Some of our facilities also collect random drug, alcohol and steroid screens and utilize guidelines set forth by the “Florida Drug Free Workplace” program. Use of certified laboratories and Medical Review Officers keep us compliant with all the standards and laws regarding collection, testing and reporting of such specimens. We recommend collection in our clinics which would be a cost savings to the city’s occupational expenses. Random drug screens should also be collected in the clinic provided the hours of the clinic can accommodate for this.

Example of timelines include:

  • Routine and post-hire physicals: 3 days
  • Complex periodic and post offer physicals: 5 days
  • Provide physical examinations consistent with the guidelines of NFPA 1582: “Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments”.

TCMAi is completely capable of evaluating workers’ comp injuries and works in conjunction with the risk management team at your facility to minimize downtime and ensure you get the all important DWc-25 form back within 90 minutes or less.