TL;DR
Dr. Jedidiah Oldham, DO provides work injury care at 972 N 600 E in Spanish Fork, including initial evaluation, treatment, workers’ compensation documentation, and return-to-work clearance. Dr. Oldham treats sprains, strains, lacerations, back injuries, repetitive motion injuries, and occupational exposures. He accepts most workers’ compensation insurance plans and provides same-day appointments for acute work injuries. Call (385) 265-6060 to schedule.
What Work Injuries Does Dr. Oldham Treat?
Treatment covers the full range of work-related injuries seen in a family medicine office, including back and neck strains, lifting injuries, slip-and-fall injuries, lacerations, sprains, fractures, repetitive motion injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis), chemical or thermal burns, and occupational exposure incidents (needlestick injuries, chemical splashes). His osteopathic training enhances the musculoskeletal evaluation for back, neck, and joint injuries, because hands-on palpation detects muscle spasm, joint restriction, and tissue inflammation that standard exam techniques may miss.
Dr. Oldham sees work injuries from a cross-section of Spanish Fork’s workforce, including construction workers, warehouse and manufacturing employees, office workers with ergonomic injuries, healthcare workers, restaurant and food service staff, and agricultural workers. Utah’s Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to provide medical care for work-related injuries, and Dr. Oldham accepts most workers’ compensation plans at the Spanish Fork office. He evaluates injured workers at same-day appointments when the injury is acute, because early evaluation and documentation are critical for both clinical outcomes and the workers’ comp claim process.
How Does Dr. Oldham Handle Workers’ Compensation Documentation?
Dr. Oldham completes the initial medical report required by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer at the first visit, documenting the mechanism of injury, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment plan, and work restrictions. Accurate and timely documentation is essential for a smooth workers’ comp claim, and Dr. Oldham has experience with the forms and timelines that Utah workers’ compensation carriers require. He dictates visit notes on the day of service so the documentation is available to the employer and the insurer without delay.
Dr. Oldham provides work status reports at each follow-up visit, specifying whether the employee can return to full duty, modified duty, or remains off work entirely. He bases these restrictions on objective findings (range of motion, strength testing, functional capacity) rather than subjective complaints alone, because insurance adjusters and employers rely on physician documentation to determine benefit eligibility. Dr. Oldham communicates directly with the employer’s safety officer or HR department when coordination is needed, always with the patient’s consent, to ensure the return-to-work plan aligns with the physical demands of the job.
What Does the First Work Injury Visit Include With Dr. Oldham?
Dr. Oldham’s first work injury visit includes a detailed history of the injury (what happened, when, how, and what body parts are affected), a focused physical examination, point-of-care testing or imaging referral when indicated, wound care or splinting for acute injuries, and a treatment plan with work restrictions. He documents the visit in the workers’ compensation format required by the carrier, including an estimated recovery timeline. For lacerations, Dr. Oldham performs wound repair in the office. For suspected fractures, he refers for same-day X-rays at a nearby imaging center and reviews the results by phone to provide work status guidance without requiring a second visit.
Dr. Oldham also performs drug and alcohol testing when required by the employer’s post-injury protocol. Many Utah employers mandate post-injury drug testing per company policy, and Dr. Oldham collects the specimen at the visit and sends it to a certified lab. He explains the testing process to the employee, clarifies that testing is a standard post-injury requirement (not an accusation), and documents compliance in the chart.
How Does Dr. Oldham Treat Back Injuries From Work?
Treatment covers work-related back injuries with a combination of medication management, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), physical therapy referral, activity modification, and graduated return-to-work planning. For acute low back strain (the most common work injury he sees), he prescribes NSAIDs and muscle relaxants for short-term pain relief, applies OMT techniques (muscle energy, myofascial release) to restore spinal mobility and reduce spasm, and orders physical therapy for core strengthening and body mechanics training. The AAFP guidelines for low back pain recommend staying active over bed rest, and Dr. Oldham incorporates this principle into every work injury plan.
Dr. Oldham avoids opioid prescriptions for acute back pain whenever possible, consistent with current evidence that NSAIDs and muscle relaxants are equally effective for acute mechanical back pain without the addiction risk. When an injury involves radiculopathy (nerve compression with leg pain) or does not improve within four to six weeks, Dr. Oldham orders an MRI and considers referral to a spine specialist. He documents the clinical progression at each visit so the workers’ compensation insurer has a clear record of the treatment course and the rationale for any advanced imaging or specialist referral.
How Does Dr. Oldham Manage Repetitive Motion and Ergonomic Injuries?
Dr. Oldham evaluates repetitive motion injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy that develop from sustained or repetitive work tasks. He diagnoses these conditions through clinical examination (Phalen’s test and Tinel’s sign for carpal tunnel, Cozen’s test for epicondylitis) and orders nerve conduction studies or ultrasound imaging when the diagnosis needs confirmation. Treatment begins with activity modification, wrist splinting (for carpal tunnel), ergonomic workplace adjustments, and physical therapy. Corticosteroid injections are available in the office for patients who do not respond to conservative measures.
The practice provides the employer with specific ergonomic recommendations when the injury results from a workstation or task design problem: adjusting desk height, using a split keyboard, rotating between tasks, and scheduling rest breaks. These recommendations reduce the likelihood of recurrence and demonstrate to the workers’ comp insurer that the treatment plan includes prevention as well as symptom management. Dr. Oldham monitors repetitive motion injuries at follow-up visits every two to four weeks and refers to orthopedic surgery when conservative treatment fails (e.g., carpal tunnel release surgery).
How Does Dr. Oldham Determine When an Employee Can Return to Work?
Dr. Oldham issues return-to-work clearance based on objective clinical criteria: pain-free range of motion, adequate strength for the job’s physical demands, functional testing that demonstrates the employee can perform essential job tasks, and resolution of any safety-sensitive limitations (medications that impair alertness, for example). He categorizes return-to-work status as full duty (no restrictions), modified duty (light duty, reduced hours, specific task restrictions), or off work entirely, and documents the specific restrictions in writing for the employer and the workers’ comp insurer.
Dr. Oldham reviews the employee’s job description when determining restrictions, because a “return to work” clearance means different things for a desk worker versus a construction laborer. For physically demanding jobs, he may issue a graduated return that starts with light duty (no lifting over 10 pounds, no overhead work) and advances to full duty over two to four weeks as the employee demonstrates functional recovery. That graduated approach reduces re-injury rates and keeps the employee connected to the workplace during recovery, which improves both clinical and employment outcomes.
Does Dr. Oldham Perform DOT Physicals Alongside Work Injury Care?
Available procedures include DOT physicals (Department of Transportation medical examinations) at the Spanish Fork office for commercial motor vehicle drivers who need certification or recertification. While DOT physicals are a separate service from work injury care, Dr. Oldham can coordinate both for drivers who are injured on the job and need to maintain their CDL medical card. He evaluates whether the injury or its treatment (pain medications, for example) affects the driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle and documents any temporary disqualifications with a clear timeline for re-evaluation.
Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover Treatment With Dr. Oldham?
Dr. Oldham accepts most workers’ compensation insurance plans in Utah, and the injured employee pays no out-of-pocket cost for treatment of an accepted work injury claim. The employer’s workers’ comp insurer covers the office visit, imaging, prescriptions, physical therapy, and any procedures related to the work injury. Dr. Oldham’s office handles the billing and authorization process directly with the insurer, which means the employee does not need to navigate insurance paperwork. The front desk verifies the workers’ comp claim number at the first visit and confirms coverage with the carrier.
Dr. Oldham notes that if a work injury claim is denied or disputed by the insurer, the employee may need to use personal health insurance for ongoing treatment until the dispute is resolved. The front desk helps patients understand their options in this situation and can bill personal insurance as a secondary payer when needed. For employees who are not sure whether their injury qualifies for workers’ compensation, Evaluation covers the injury and provides documentation that the employee can submit to their employer to initiate a claim.
How Do I Schedule a Work Injury Visit With Dr. Oldham?
Schedule a work injury evaluation
Call for a same-day appointment for acute work injuries. Provide the employer’s name and workers’ compensation carrier when scheduling so the front desk can verify coverage before the visit.
Call (385) 265-6060 Book online
972 N 600 E, Spanish Fork, UT 84660
Frequently Asked Questions About Work Injury Care
Can I see Dr. Oldham for a work injury the same day it happens?
Yes. The office reserves same-day slots for acute injuries. Call (385) 265-6060 as soon as the injury occurs and provide the employer’s workers’ comp information.
Do I need my employer’s permission to see Dr. Oldham?
Utah law allows injured workers to choose their treating physician. You should report the injury to your employer, but you have the right to select Dr. Oldham as your workers’ comp physician.
Will I have to pay for a work injury visit?
No. Accepted workers’ compensation claims cover all treatment costs. The employee has no copay, deductible, or out-of-pocket cost for care related to the approved work injury.
Can Dr. Oldham provide light-duty work restrictions?
Yes. Dr. Oldham issues written work restrictions at each visit, specifying what the employee can and cannot do. He adjusts restrictions at follow-up visits as recovery progresses.
Does Dr. Oldham treat injuries from all types of jobs?
Treatment covers work injuries from all industries, including construction, manufacturing, office, healthcare, food service, and agriculture. His family medicine training covers the full range of injury types.
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational and does not replace an in-person evaluation. Individual treatment decisions should be made between a patient and their physician.
Content accuracy: Clinical guidance is based on current AAFP recommendations and Utah Workers’ Compensation Act requirements. Last reviewed April 2026.