A
ADR-Alternative Dispute Resolution
AMA-American Medical Association
AWW-Average Weekly Wage
AOE-Arising Out of Employment
B
C
CNA-Certified Nursing Assistant
CNS-Central Nervous System
COE-Course of Employment
CPT-Common Procedure Terminology
CTS-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
COLA-Cost of Living Adjustment
CRPS-Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Cx-Complaints
C-1, C-2, etc-The Cervical Spine
D
DC -Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine
DO-Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Dx-Diagnosis
DDS-Doctor of Dental Science
DME-Durable Medical Equipment
DOB-Date of Birth
DOE-Department of Employment
DOI-Date of Injury
DOS-Date of Service
E
EE-Employee
ER-Emergency Room or Employer
EOB-Explanation of Benefits
F
FAX-Facsimile (Transmission)
FCE-Functional Capacity Evaluation
FX- Fracture
G
H
HCP-Health Care Provider
Hx-History
I
ICU-Intensive Care Unit
IME-Independent Medical Examination
J
K
L
LOE-Loss of Earnings
LPN-Licensed Practical Nurse
L-1, L-2 etc-The Lumbar Spine
M
MD-Doctor of Medicine
MI-Myocardial Infarction
MMI-Maximum Medical Improvement
MRI-Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MVA-Motor Vehicle Accident
N
O
OR-Operating Room
OT-Occupational Therapy
OJT-On the Job Training
OTC-Over-the-Counter (medication)
OWC- Office of Workers’ Compensation
P
PA-Physician Assistant
PI-Private Investigator
PT-Physical Therapy-
Px-Prognosis
PPD-Permanent Partial Disability
PRN-Patient Return as Needed
PTD-Permanent Total Disability
Q
R
RN-Registered Nurse
Rx-Prescription
ROM-Range of Motion
RSD-Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as complex regional pain syndrome
RTW-Return to Work
S
Sx-Symptoms
SSI-Social Security (Retirement) Income
SSN-Social Security Number
SSDI-Social Security Disability Income
SOAP-Subjective (data), Objective (data), Assessment and Plan
T
Tx–Treatment
TENS-Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TMJ-Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (Dysfunction)
TPD-Temporary Partial Disability (light-duty)
TTD-Temporary Total Disability
T-1, T-2 etc.-The Thoracic spine
U
V
VR-Vocation Rehabilitation
VWC-Virginia Workers Compensation Commission
W
WH-Work Hardening

It was recently reported in the news that a devastating fire at an office building in Houston left a three people dead. It was a terrible fire, and unfortunately there were a number of workers who were not able to make it out alive. Great American Insurance Company was the insurer for these claims, and was facing upwards of 25 million dollars in potential liability. It might be assumed that this “Great American” company might pay the families of the deceased worker. Instead,the company filed a lawsuit in Federal Court claiming that the smoke that killed the three people was “pollution” and that surviving families shouldn’t be compensated for their losses since the deaths were not caused directly by the actual flames. This should prove once and for all that this Insurance company is neither “Great” nor “American”, it is just another example of a large insurance company trying to avoid any responsibility regardless of whether they are doing what is right, or what is just.

This is where lawyers such as myself come in. I’d like to think that the average person could handle their own workers’ compensation claim, but when I hear stories such as this one, I have to think twice. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to deny your claim, or pay you the least possible. Do yourself a favor and hire a lawyer.