Page 12 - 2018 July Newsletter

ThirdVice President’s Report
Limited duty? You still have rights
Limited duty allows a member to return to work in a capacity that will not exacerbate his or her ill- ness or injury. Members injured in the line of duty, who are certified by the Medical Services Section as being able to perform limited duty assignments, shall be given limited duty assignments “until they can perform regular duty assignments, or until they are mandatorily retired, whichever occurs first.” Members who have non-duty related injuries or illnesses may be eligible for a limited-duty assign- ment as well but are limited to 730 days. If you have
returned to work after exhausting your “365” and are placed in a limited-duty capacity and need continued care, the two subsec- tions of the contract listed below are your protections:
ARTICLE 18 — DISABILITY INCOME Section CLAIMS - 18.1 — I.O.D. Any officer absent from work on account of injury on duty (I.O.D.) for any period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months shall receive for each such I.O.D. full pay and benefits for the period of absence, provided such injury or illness is certified by the Medical Services Section. Such certification shall not be unreasonably withheld. Officers who have exhausted said twelve (12) month paid I.O.D. leave shall be given the option to volun- tarily go on non-paid medical leave instead of disability pen- sion, provided: A. The officer must exhaust all furlough, personal days, baby furlough days and accumulated compensatory time; B. Such non-paid leave shall continue for no more than three months, plus an extension of no more than three months, and
shall not be granted or extended unless the employer determines that the officer is likely to return to duty within the period of the leave or extension thereof; and C. Such non-paid leave shall be subject to Section 23.1.B herein below and shall not be deemed duty disability leave.
APPENDIX N PROCEDURES FOR INJURY ON DUTY AND RE- CURRENCE. An officer who has been certified as injured on duty shall be provided a list of available physicians for treatment. The list of available physicians shall indicate the physicians’ medical specialties and the physicians shall be members in good stand- ing of a network of workers’ compensation physicians qualified to render appropriate medical care for the injury claimed. The officer will select a physician from the list provided by the em- ployer. The Medical Services Section will refer the officer to the physician selected by the officer. An officer claiming a recurrence of an injury on duty will have his or her claim evaluated by a phy- sician from the Medical Services Section. A claim of a recurrence of an injury on duty includes a claim by an officer that an injury, illness or condition is related to an injury on duty. If the Medical Services Section physician finds the injury, illness or condition complained of is not a recurrence of or related to an injury on duty, the Medical Services Section will provide the officer with the list of physicians described above. The officer will select a physi- cian from the list provided by the Medical Services Section, and the Medical Services Section will refer the officer to the physician selected by the officer (referral physician).
Stay safe!d
JAY RYAN
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2018