City leaders said they are taking action to ensure first responders\u2019 workers\u2019 compensation cases are properly addressed after public outcry over a Fort Worth firefighter being denied medical services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caleb Halvorson was severely injured<\/a> on duty when a garage door fell on him while fighting a fire in the Historic Southside in September. Months later, he was denied rehabilitation services, his family said.<\/p>\n In a statement sent to council members<\/a> Friday, City Manager Jay Chapa said the human resources workers\u2019 comp group will add an additional position to serve as a case manager specifically for first responders.\u00a0<\/p>\n He also said the city will better communicate with first responders to better understand their experiences and \u201cadvise them of their rights and responsibilities under Texas Law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease know the city works consistently to get the best care possible for all of our injured employees, this employee included, while remaining compliant with Texas laws that govern workers\u2019 compensation,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Halvorson\u2019s mother Alisha Cook posted on Facebook<\/a> about the firefighter\u2019s experience with Sedgwick, which manages workers\u2019 compensation claims for the city of Fort Worth. The continuous passive motion machine Halvorson needed to rehabilitate his knee after a surgery this month was denied, she wrote.<\/p>\n City Council member Charlie Lauersdorf posted on social media<\/a> that he was \u201cdeclaring war\u201d on Sedgwick, writing that he was \u201cdone watching them screw over the very people who keep this city safe.\u201d<\/p>\n The next day, the city\u2019s human resource department approved<\/a> Halvorson receiving the continuous passive motion machine. Afterwards, Lauersdorf told the Fort Worth Report he would gather facts to figure out what change can be done at the city level.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alongside Lauersdorf, state Reps. Jared Patterson and John McQueeney expressed public support for the Fort Worth firefighter. In a statement<\/a> to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, they said they will be \u201cwatching to ensure that (the workers\u2019 comp provider) follows through \u2026 with continued care.\u201d<\/p>\n Halvorson was injured last year while on duty after a garage door collapsed on him and left him trapped in the burning building. He spent 34 days in the burn unit after being rushed to Parkland Hospital. He suffered a dislocated knee, several third degree burns and multiple ligament tears. Halvorson said that as of Jan. 20, the firefighter has undergone six surgeries since the fire.<\/p>\n Halvorson said he\u2019s experienced other delays related to his recovery. When the machine was denied by Sedgwick, he finally decided to go public.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was my tipping point. I had to say something. I\u2019m not getting the care that I need \u2014 you can\u2019t just not rehab a knee after surgery,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n He had a five-day delay between knee surgery and receiving the continuous passive motion machine, Halvorson said, adding that he is now \u201cso far behind\u201d from where he is supposed to be for the workout program.<\/p>\n When asked for comment, a Sedgwick spokesperson referred the Fort Worth Report to city staff for a statement. A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to comment before publication.<\/p>\n Halvorson said he is glad the workers\u2019 compensation issues are being resolved. He noted that many first responders going through similar issues didn\u2019t receive the media attention he was afforded, both after his injury and during recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cIf my story is getting denied through workers\u2019 comp, what about the next guy that gets injured?\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Halvorson said it was unfortunate that it took going public with the situation for the denial to be fixed. He stressed that his desire to return to the Fort Worth Fire Department remains unchanged and that he\u2019s excited to rejoin his brothers in the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, he expressed thanks to city officials as they look to solve the bureaucratic hurdles he had to endure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited to see what happens with all of that,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess only time will tell if it really does get changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n