DOL Doctors for Federal Employees in Bethesda, Maryland
Injured federal and postal employees in Bethesda, MD can be seen by OWCP-enrolled DOL doctors at Federal Injury Centers. One appointment request reaches all 9 DMV clinics.
Federal employees in Bethesda who are hurt at work file under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) with the Department of Labor's OWCP, and may choose their own OWCP-enrolled doctor. Federal Injury Centers' nearest clinics to Bethesda are in Rockville and Silver Spring.
Bethesda's federal workforce
Bethesda is home to the National Institutes of Health main campus (including the National Library of Medicine), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University. That means researchers, lab technicians, nurses, patient-care staff, police and facilities crews, plus the postal workers who serve the area. Patient handling, lab work, long hours at a bench or a screen, and slips on a large campus all lead to FECA claims.
Many Bethesda federal employees work in health care themselves, and are surprised that their own clinic or their regular doctor can't simply take on the workers' comp case. FECA has its own rules: OWCP pays only enrolled providers, and it decides claims on specific medical evidence and forms.
Nearest clinics
- Rockville, 1 Research Court: up the I-270 corridor from Bethesda.
- Silver Spring, 9801 Georgia Avenue: for East Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Kensington.
Steps after a work injury
- Tell your supervisor and get urgent care if needed.
- File in ECOMP: CA-1 for a traumatic injury (within 30 days keeps continuation of pay for up to 45 days), CA-2 for an occupational disease. Your agency's injury-compensation office can help with the form.
- Ask for a CA-16 after a traumatic injury so treatment is authorized while the claim is pending.
- Choose an OWCP-enrolled treating physician. FECA gives you the first choice; later changes need OWCP approval.
OWCP's Division of Federal Employees' Compensation explains the program, and the FECA statute sets the rules. Benefits for federal employees outside workers' comp, such as disability retirement, run through OPM instead. Labor-relations questions are separate again (the NLRB covers the private sector; federal employees go through the FLRA). For a work injury, the claim that pays medical care and lost wages is the OWCP claim.
How we help
Evaluation, treatment, physical therapy and chiropractic care, and the documentation OWCP needs: CA-17 duty status reports, CA-20 attending physician's reports and narrative reports. Billed to OWCP directly. More in federal workers' comp explained and OWCP forms.
Keep reading
I work at NIH. Can NIH's occupational medical service treat my workers' comp injury?
An agency's occupational health unit may give first aid or initial care, but for ongoing treatment under a FECA claim you choose your treating physician, and OWCP pays only providers enrolled with OWCP. Many NIH and Walter Reed civilians choose an OWCP-enrolled DOL doctor near home or work.
Which Federal Injury Centers clinic is closest to Bethesda?
Rockville (1 Research Court) for most of Bethesda and the I-270 corridor, and Silver Spring (9801 Georgia Avenue) for East Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
Is OWCP the same as disability retirement through OPM?
No. OWCP pays medical care and wage-loss compensation for injuries in the performance of duty. OPM disability retirement is a separate retirement benefit with its own application and rules.
Request an Appointment With a DOL Doctor
One form reaches all 9 Federal Injury Centers locations. Our scheduling team will match you with the nearest clinic, confirm your OWCP paperwork and get you evaluated — usually within days.
Prefer to talk? Call (240) 863-2822
Helpful to have ready
- Your agency and job title (e.g., USPS letter carrier)
- Date and brief description of the injury
- Your CA-16 authorization, if your agency issued one
- OWCP claim number, if your claim is already filed
Don't have these yet? Submit the form anyway — we'll help you get the paperwork started.