Workers Compensation Services and Work Injury Care

Our Work Injury Recovery Center coordinates medical care for people with work injuries while helping your business manage workers’ compensation cases.
Call: 1-319-356-1113, option 1

If one of your employees is injured on the job, you have multiple goals. 

You want them feeling better quickly and back to work as soon as they’re healthy enough to return. You also want your company’s workers’ compensation cases handled as efficiently as possible. 

That’s where University of Iowa Health Care excels.   

Our Work Injury Recovery Center (WIRC) coordinates timely care while providing streamlined workers’ comp case coordination.  

This means your injured employees receive some of the best medical care Iowa has to offer. And your organization benefits from WIRC’s administrative expertise.   

Comprehensive care for common and complex injuries

Even the most robust workplace safety programs and protocols can’t fully prevent work-related injuries. Accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. 

Fortunately, UI Health Care providers have experience treating even the most serious workplace injuries. We offer all the nonsurgical and surgical treatments your employees may need to recover. 

Outstanding orthopedic care and more

Most of the work injuries we treat are musculoskeletal. In other words, they affect bones, muscles, joints, nerves, and other tissues. 

If your employee has a musculoskeletal injury, they’ll see one of our orthopedic specialists. Their areas of expertise include: 

Back pain and injury caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying 

Conditions caused by frequent repetitive motions (such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger) 

Muscle strains, ligament sprains, and tendon tears caused by slips, trips, or falls

Orthopedic trauma and fractures caused by accidents involving machinery or equipment

UI Health Care also treats workplace injuries that affect other parts of the body. For example, our team includes: 

How your employees benefit from WIRC 

Your employees can count on our team for prompt care and a positive experience. We offer: 

  • Expedited consultations for acute (sudden and serious) injuries 
  • Timely scheduling of diagnostic tests, including same-day CT or MRI scans when needed 
  • Coordination of care across specialties for employees who need evaluations or treatments from multiple providers 
  • Prompt access to surgery if surgical treatment is necessary 

We have a multispecialty team of providers that reviews all complex cases. This includes cases for employees who: 

  • Have a history of failed conservative (nonsurgical) treatments 
  • Have had previous surgery for their injury 
  • Have had prior consultations with (or treatments performed by) another health care provider 

In these situations, our team reviews the case, makes treatment recommendations, and provides a formal report. 

Extensive experience with workers’ compensation cases

No two workplace injuries or conditions are alike. And factors like long-term complications, treatment history, and recovery time make each case different. 

Employers across Iowa partner with UI Health Care—and WIRC—because we offer a unique combination of medical and administrative expertise. 

Workers’ comp services we offer

Our team can help your organization manage all the details (and complexities) associated with workers’ comp administration. This includes: 

  • Performing a complete review of your employee’s health history 
  • Obtaining pre-authorization for any necessary tests or procedures 
  • Performing independent medical exams (IMEs) 
  • Providing prompt, ongoing communication to your company’s human resources department, case managers, insurers, and attorneys 
  • Providing prompt case resolution, so you’re not left with lingering or unanswered questions  

The WIRC referral process

To initiate medical care related to a workers’ compensation case, you’ll need to send us a completed referral form and other documentation. 

Submit a referral form

The first step is to download and fill out our referral form. You’ll need to include your employee’s contact information, injury details, and all records and imaging associated with the injured body part. You’ll also need to gather and include contact information for your company’s: 

  • Workers’ compensation insurance provider 

  • Workers’ compensation case manager 

  • Attorney 

When the form is completed:

Download our referral form

Download our referral requirements

Additional documentation

In addition to sending us the referral form, you’ll need to provide: 

  • Any previous, relevant medical records in chronological order (including clinic notes, radiology reports, and op reports) 
  • Your employee’s functional job description (so we can address any restricted work abilities) 

Please note that we address acute referrals within 24-48 hours, and all other referrals within five to seven business days. 

Work injury tests and treatments

  • CT scan 
  • Lab tests 
  • Medication 
  • MRI scan 
  •  Occupational therapy 
  • Orthotics 
  • Physical therapy (PT) 
  • Surgery 
  • Ultrasound 
  • X-ray 

Work injury conditions treated

Our Care Team

Matthew J. Bollier, MD, FAOA portrait

Matthew J.
Bollier
MD, FAOA

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.59 out of 5 (1,216 ratings)
Joseph A. Buckwalter V, MD, PhD portrait

Joseph A.
Buckwalter V
MD, PhD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.74 out of 5 (1,574 ratings)
John E. Femino, MD portrait

John E.
Femino
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.58 out of 5 (768 ratings)
Joseph W. Galvin, DO portrait

Joseph W.
Galvin
DO

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.80 out of 5 (126 ratings)
Matthew Hogue, MD portrait

Matthew
Hogue
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.58 out of 5 (674 ratings)
Cassim M. Igram, MD portrait

Cassim M.
Igram
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.58 out of 5 (1,654 ratings)
Matthew Karam, MD portrait

Matthew
Karam
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.69 out of 5 (743 ratings)
James V. Nepola, MD portrait

James V.
Nepola
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.69 out of 5 (1,756 ratings)
Nicolas Noiseux, MD, MS, FRCSC portrait

Nicolas
Noiseux
MD, MS, FRCSC

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.62 out of 5 (1,744 ratings)
Catherine R. Olinger, MD, MS, FAAOS portrait

Catherine R.
Olinger
MD, MS, FAAOS

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.73 out of 5 (435 ratings)
Brendan Patterson, MD, MPH portrait

Brendan
Patterson
MD, MPH

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.80 out of 5 (1,876 ratings)
Andrew J. Pugely, MD portrait

Andrew J.
Pugely
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.69 out of 5 (1,549 ratings)
Brian Dlouhy, MD portrait

Brian
Dlouhy
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.42 out of 5 (510 ratings)
Kathleen Dlouhy, MD, MBA portrait

Kathleen
Dlouhy
MD, MBA

  • Neurosurgery
4.80 out of 5 (886 ratings)
Jeremy D. Greenlee, MD portrait

Jeremy D.
Greenlee
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.68 out of 5 (1,640 ratings)
Patrick W. Hitchon, MD portrait

Patrick W.
Hitchon
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.26 out of 5 (1,258 ratings)
Matthew A. Howard, MD portrait

Matthew A.
Howard
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.37 out of 5 (2,187 ratings)
Hiroto Kawasaki, MD, PhD portrait

Hiroto
Kawasaki
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.55 out of 5 (818 ratings)
Arnold H. Menezes, MD portrait

Arnold H.
Menezes
MD

  • Neurosurgery
4.52 out of 5 (287 ratings)
Hiroyuki Oya, MD, PhD portrait

Hiroyuki
Oya
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.03 out of 5 (769 ratings)
Satoshi Yamaguchi, MD, PhD portrait

Satoshi
Yamaguchi
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.19 out of 5 (747 ratings)
Brenda S. Buikema, MD, MPH portrait

Brenda S.
Buikema
MD, MPH

  • Lung Services
Claudia Corwin, MD, MPH portrait

Claudia
Corwin
MD, MPH

Eric Aschenbrenner, MD portrait

Eric
Aschenbrenner
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.80 out of 5 (142 ratings)
Kendall Keck, MD portrait

Kendall
Keck
MD

  • Cosmetic Surgery & Services
  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.86 out of 5 (69 ratings)
Patrick G. Hartley, MD, BCh, BAO, MPH portrait

Patrick G.
Hartley
MD, BCh, BAO, MPH

  • Lung Services
4.92 out of 5 (200 ratings)
April Allen, PA-C portrait

April
Allen
PA-C

  • Same-Day Care
4.73 out of 5 (30 ratings)
Anne Boyler, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Anne
Boyler
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.57 out of 5 (173 ratings)
Jonathan Maginot, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Jonathan
Maginot
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Laura Magrane, MPAS, PA-C, MAT portrait

Laura
Magrane
MPAS, PA-C, MAT

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.83 out of 5 (677 ratings)
Tracie L. Neustel, MSN, ARNP, FNP portrait

Tracie L.
Neustel
MSN, ARNP, FNP

Refer your employee for work injury care

Providers from UI Health Care can evaluate or treat your employee following a workplace injury. Contact our Work Injury Recovery Center to ask questions or obtain a copy of our referral form.
Call 1-319-356-1113, option 1 Download our referral form

Locations and Offices

Work Injury Recovery Center (WIRC)
01400-Z John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
Lower Level, Elevator I
1-319-356-1113
Clinic
Work Injury Recovery Center entrance at UI Hospitals & Clinics
In Medical Center
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

Related Health Topics

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
May 20, 2022
Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, or nerves that arise from repeated and/or prolonged exposure to mec...

Patient Stories

Carolyn’s lingering arm pain vanishes after she gets a second opinion from a wrist and elbow specialist
July 1, 2021
UI Health Care’s hand, wrist, and elbow expert found the source of the pain that other doctors had missed and quickly performed surgery to make it rig...
Carolyn Burger
Work injury recovery center helps patients and employers
September 21, 2015
“If the clinician knows your area of injury backwards and forwards, they can quickly assess what’s going on and decide whether you can get back in the...