AMBER L. LENARTZ, Employee/Respondent,
v.
CHILDREN'S HOSPS. & CLINICS OF MINN. and BERKLEY RISK ADM'RS CO., LLC, Employer-Insurer/Appellants
and
ALLINA MED. CLINIC, ABBOTT NW. HOSR, and EQUIAN O/B/O BLUE CROSS MASS., Interveners.
No. WC19-6263
Minnesota Workers Compensation
Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals
August 28, 2019
CAUSATION
- SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. Substantial evidence, including
medical records, expert medical opinion and lay testimony,
supports the compensation judge’s determination that
the employee’s symptoms, disability, and treatment are
causally related to the work injury.
Jerry
W. Sisk, Law Office of Thomas D. Mottaz, Coon Rapids,
Minnesota, for the Respondent.
Edward
Q. Cassidy and Ashley R. Thronson, Fredrikson & Byron,
P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Appellant.
Determined by: David A. Stofferahn, Judge, Patricia J. Mlun,
Chief Judge, Gary M. Hall, Judge
Compensation Judge: Miriam P. Rykken
Affirmed.
OPINION
DAVID
A. STOFFERAHN, Judge.
The
employer appeals from the compensation judge’s denial
of its petition to discontinue and the compensation
judge’s award of continuing benefits to the employee.
We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Amber
Lenartz was employed by Children’s Hospital and Clinics
as a registered nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit
when she sustained a head injury on July 10, 2017. The
employee was assisting two radiology technicians who were
taking an x-ray of one of her patients. As she was adjusting
the patient’s posture for the procedure, the arm of the
portable x-ray machine swung suddenly and hit her on the side
of her head.
The
employee did not lose consciousness but stated she saw
“stars,” experienced dizziness, and had pain in
the left side of her head. She continued to work until the
end of her shift and then reported the injury to the charge
nurse. The employee went to the hospital’s emergency
room where she was seen by Dr. Sara Friedman. Dr. Friedman
diagnosed a concussion without loss of consciousness,
provided Motrin and an anti-nausea medication, and took the
employee off work.
The
employer accepted liability for the work injury and began
paying wage loss benefits and medical expenses. The employee
was also provided statutory rehabilitation services through
the assistance of QRC Melissa Jackson. Ms. Jackson initially
provided medical management services.
The
employee began treating with Dr. Kristin Stoner, a physical
medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Courage Kenny
Rehabilitation Institute, on July 18, 2017. Dr.
Stoner’s testing showed vestibular, visual, and
cognitive impairment and she diagnosed the employee as having...
