Workers’ Compensation

Workers' Compensation is a no-fault benefit to employees of the University who suffer an injury or occupational disease resulting from their work. All employees, including student workers and part-time employees, are covered by Workers' Compensation. The Workers' Compensation Law provides the following benefits:

• Medical Treatment
• Temporary Total Disability
• Permanent Partial/Total Disability
• Death Benefits

If you hire or plan to hire any employees who work outside Tennessee, please contact your Engagement Consultant.

Medical Treatment

State Law allows the employer to choose a panel of medical providers, and the one chosen will be used to treat the injured employee. Please contact the VU Workers’ Compensation team by phone at 615-343-4142 or by email at fmlaprocessing@vanderbilt.edu for a list of authorized medical providers. If the employee chooses to seek treatment with their personal physician, medical charges will not be paid by Workers' Compensation. 

State Law allows the employer to choose a panel of medical providers, and the one chosen will be used to treat the injured employee. Please check with Tracy Woodard for a list of authorized medical providers. If the employee chooses to seek treatment with their personal physician, medical charges will not be paid by Workers' Compensation. 

Lost Wages

By law, a seven day (7-)day waiting period is in effect and no compensation is payable during the waiting period unless the disability last longer than 7 calendar days. Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits would begin on the eighth calendar day off work. If the employee is off work more than 14 calendar days the TTD benefits would go back and pick up the first week, or waiting period. The work injury / illness and related time away from work is determined by the authorized paneled physician. 

Staff members may use accrued sick time to supplement workers' compensation benefits. It is also possible for staff members to supplement workers' compensation benefits with accrued vacation and holiday time. This procedure is coordinated between the staff and member's supervisor and the Payroll Department. 

Permanent Partial Disability

If the injury results in a permanent disability, the employee may receive a settlement based on the percent of disability. Once a settlement is reached, benefits for future medical treatment may be left open. Benefits for future lost wages are no longer payable. 

After a settlement is reached the employee will be notified to appear before the Davidson County Chancery or Circuit court. The employee will be apprised of their rights under the law and the judge will approve the settlement. 

Death Benefit

If an employee dies as the result of work-related injury, he/she is entitled to burial expenses per Tennessee Department of Labor (TDOL) guidelines. If the deceased employee left no dependents, the estate of the deceased employee receives expenses per TDOL guidelines. If the employee does leave dependents, the dependents may receive the deceased employee's maximum weekly benefit for the number of weeks outlined by TDOL. 

If you have questions, need clarification on policies or just want general information pertaining to Workers' Compensation, please contact the Worker's Compensation team. 

• Report any work injury or illness to your supervisor immediately
  • No matter how slight the injury may be.  Don’t delay.  Report the event using the First Report of Work Jury Form (Add Link to VU Intake Portal: Work Injury / Illness Reporting )
  • Reporting your injury promptly helps prevent delays in benefits, including the medical care you may need to prevent further injury.
• Seek medical attention

  • On Campus	Off Campus	Out-of-State
    Go to the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) 1211 21st Ave. South Medical Arts Building, Suite 640 - 6th Floor Nashville, TN 37212 Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM If an injury occurs outside operating hours, please visit the VUMC emergency room and inform them you are there for a work-related injury. After being treated and released from the emergency room, you must follow up at OHC the next business day.	If you work off-site in Tennessee, visit the Vanderbilt Walk-In Clinic nearest you. If a Vanderbilt Walk-In Clinic is not an option, go to the nearest medical provider walk-in clinic and inform them you are there for a work-related injury. If this is an emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room and inform the staff that you are there for a work-related injury. Although you work off campus, you must follow up with OHC after being treated and released from the emergency room on the next business day.	If you are outside Tennessee when your work-related injury occurs and need medical treatment, please visit the nearest walk-in clinic or emergency room. Inform them you are there for a work-related injury.

• • Notify Patricia Parker or Tracy Woodard immediately on all after hour, weekend, off-campus, and ER visits
  • If seen in the ER or walk-in clinic, you must follow up with Occupational Health the next business day
  • For a serious injury, 911 should be called. Notify Patricia Parker or Tracy Woodard immediately.

In order to receive benefits under Workers' Compensation, an employee must report the injury to their supervisor/department immediately after it occurs. The department must report all injuries to Workers’ Compensation via the Origami application.

Work Injury / Illness Reporting

If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Parker or Tracy Woodard.  

See policy

Staff members receiving temporary total disability (TTD) benefits as a result of work related injury or illness may be eligible for Participation in the Return to Work Program Eligibility requirement and specific instructions are referenced in the Return to Work program Policy. Return to Work Program: HR-10

If you have an employee who lives and works outside the state of Tennessee, please contact People Experience. People Experience, in collaboration with the Risk Department, will work to secure workers’ compensation coverage in that state.

OSHA Form 300A