"Experience at a publically funded occupational health clinical center in New York State suggests that patients with work-related illnesses often have great difficulty assessing diagnostic and treatment services. A study was designed to more quantitatively investigate the extent and nature of barriers to medical services for patients with Workers' Compensation claims.A number of barriers were identified by the survey including practices closed to new patients and practices closed specifically to patients with Workers' Compensation claims. While the study showed some of the difficulties patiens with occupational illnesses face attempting to access medical services, it most likely underestimated the extent of the problem. Attitudes and practices that impede access, but were not measurable, create additional barriers."

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