NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

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Medical Rehabilitation Nurses

Medical Rehabilitation Nurses Section

Our Mission

The employees of the Industrial Commission’s Medical Rehabilitation Nurses Section are committed to providing excellent consultative rehabilitation services to all stakeholders through collaborative facilitation and coordination of high quality, effective medical care and vocational rehabilitation for the injured worker.

What We Do

Ongoing rehabilitation case management of injured workers covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act is provided by Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals employed in private industry. The Industrial Commission’s Medical Rehabilitation Nurses Section assists with difficult cases temporarily, promoting and supporting ongoing case management within the private industry. The Nurse Section also performs specific rehabilitation activities as ordered by hearing officers within the Industrial Commission.

In addition to consultative rehabilitation services, the Nurses Section is responsible for:

  1. Provision of NCIC Mandatory Rehabilitation Professional Training;
  2. Acknowledgment of the Form 25N Notice of Assignment of Rehabilitation Professional;
  3. Maintenance of the NCIC Registry of Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Professionals.

Mandatory Rehabilitation Professionals Training

Initial Training Course

The N.C. Industrial Commission has adopted mandatory training requirements for Rehabilitation Professionals pursuant to Rule 11 NCAC 23C .0105(e)(2) and (f) of the N.C. Industrial Commission’s Rules for Utilization of Rehabilitation Professionals in Worker’s Compensation Clams. For those who begin practicing case management in North Carolina, there is an initial training course entitled, "Worker’s Compensation Case Management in NC: A Basic Primer for Medical and Vocational Case Managers." This course must be completed within six months of the date the Rehabilitation Professional begins working N.C. cases. For class availability and registration, go to the NCIC Online Services Center. If you have questions, contact Yolanda Newsome at 919-807-2616 or via e-mail yolanda.newsome@ic.nc.gov.

Refresher Course

To maintain "qualified" status, a Rehabilitation Professional shall attend a two-hour refresher course entitled, "Worker’s Compensation Case Management in NC: A Refresher Course" every five years, beginning with the date of the original course completion. For class availability and registration, go to the NCIC Online Services Center. If you have questions, contact Yolanda Newsome at 919-807-2616 or via e-mail yolanda.newsome@ic.nc.gov.

Pursuant to the NCIC Rules for Utilization of Rehabilitation Professionals in Worker’s Compensation Claims, Rule 11 NCAC 23C .0105(g), all rehabilitation professionals shall have a period of six months to complete the mandated course.

Rules for Utilization of Rehab Professionals in Workers’ Comp Claims

There are a set of rules that govern the utilization and practice of Rehabilitation Professionals in N.C. Workers’ Compensation Claims. To view these rules in English, click here; in Spanish, click here. Pursuant to Rule 11 NCAC 23C .0107(b), the Rehab Professional must provide the injured worker a full copy of the Rules.

There are also Medical and Vocational Summaries of the North Carolina Industrial Commission’s Rules for Utilization of Rehabilitation Professionals. For a Summary of these Rules for Medical Rehabilitation Professionals in English, click here; in Spanish click here. For a Summary of these Rules for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals in English, click here; in Spanish click here. Please note the Summaries do not replace the full set of Rules but can be given to the injured worker in addition to the full Rules.

Rehabilitation Forms

For a list of Forms related to Nursing and Rehabilitation, please click here.

Registry of Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Professionals

Rehabilitation Professionals providing services for injured workers in North Carolina must be qualified in accordance with 11 NCAC 23C, and must be listed on the Registry of Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Professionals. It is the responsibility of each Rehabilitation Professional to provide and/or update licensure and certification numbers and dates. To be added to the Rehab Registry, please submit a request on the NCIC Online Services Center.

Rehabilitation Contacts

The telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Nursing Section are as follows:

Title Name Email Phone
Rehabilitation Nurse Consultant Vicki Hewitt-McNeil vicki.hewitt@ic.nc.gov (919) 807-2618
Office Assistant Yolanda Newsome yolanda.newsome@ic.nc.gov (919) 807-2616