                                     IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                                     FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA

ELSA DOMINGUEZ,                      NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
                                     FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
      Appellant,                     DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

v.                                   CASE NO. 1D16-2195

COMPASS GROUP and
GALLAGHER BASSETT
SERVICES, INC.

      Appellees.

_____________________________/

Opinion filed May 16, 2017.

An appeal from an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims.
Margaret E. Sojourner, Judge.

Date of Accident: April 1, 2012.

Mark L. Zientz of Mark L. Zientz, P.A., Miami, for Appellant.

Mary Frances Nelson of Eraclides, Gelman, Hall, Indek, Goodman & Waters, Ft.
Myers, for Appellees.




PER CURIAM.

      In this workers’ compensation case, Claimant appeals an order of the Judge

of Compensation Claims (JCC) denying her claim for a one-time change of

physician under section 440.13(2)(f), Florida Statutes (2011). We reverse pursuant
to Providence Prop. & Cas. v. Wilson, 990 So. 2d 1224, 1225 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008),

because a claimant’s right to a one-time change of treating physician is absolute if

the request is made during the course of treatment.

      Claimant sustained a compensable crush injury to her right hand on April 1,

2012. The Employer/Carrier (E/C) subsequently authorized medical treatment with

Dr. Arango, an orthopedic hand specialist. Dr. Arango provided treatment for the

workplace hand injury, placed Claimant at maximum medical improvement on

October 13, 2013, and assigned a 3% permanent impairment rating along with

restrictions on the use of the right hand. In May 2014, Claimant filed a petition for

benefits (PFB) seeking authorization of medical care from a primary care provider.

The E/C denied the claim and raised various defenses including major contributing

cause with regard to the need for any further medical care.

      In a subsequent order entered in May 2015, the JCC found nothing in the

records from the authorized physicians indicating a need for additional medical

treatment.   Almost a year later, in February 2016, Claimant filed a PFB seeking

authorization of a one-time change of physician. In response, the E/C asserted,

among other things, that res judicata barred the request for the one-time change.

Both Claimant and the E/C subsequently filed motions for summary final order. On

April 21, 2016, the JCC entered an order granting the E/C’s motion and denying

the claim for a one-time change of physician based on her conclusion that the May

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2015 final order was res judicata as to the need for future medical care. This

appeal followed the final order denying claimant’s request for a one-time change

of physician.

      Section 440.13(2)(f) provides that “[u]pon the written request of the

employee, the carrier shall give the employee the opportunity for one change of

physician during the course of treatment for any one accident.” In Wilson, we said

that the “course of treatment” requirement is met so long as the claimant has been

treated with an authorized physician, even if a claimant was subsequently

discharged from medical care. 990 So. 2d at 1225. Because Claimant was

previously treated by an authorized physician, she qualifies to seek a one-time

change of physician. The doctrine of res judicata does not properly apply. Thus,

we REVERSE the order below and REMAND for further proceedings consistent

with this opinion.

OSTERHAUS, BILBREY, and WINOKUR, JJ., CONCUR.




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