South Chicago's DOL-OWCP Doctor for injured federal workers.
Integrated Body and Medicine is a federal workers' compensation clinic serving USPS, VA, TSA, DoD and every federal agency across the South Chicago metro and Northwest Indiana. Direct billing to DOL-OWCP. Free help with CA-1, CA-2, CA-7 and every OWCP form. Led by Dr. Ahmad Sprouse, DC — Best of the Region Chiropractor 2019–2025.
Integrated Body and Medicine
Homestead Plaza · Highland, IN 46322
Tue · Fri 10am – 1pm
$0 out-of-pocket for federal workers
Patient Reviews
NWI Times 2019–2025
$0 Out of Pocket
USPS · VA · TSA · More
A federal workers' comp doctor who knows OWCP, FECA, and you.
If you're a federal employee or postal worker injured on the job anywhere in the South Chicago metro or Northwest Indiana, the doctor you choose for your treatment is one of the single most important decisions you will make. Federal workers' compensation operates under a separate set of rules, deadlines, and forms — and most general medical practices simply aren't equipped to navigate them. A claim that should have been straightforward can quietly unravel when the paperwork comes back wrong, the medical reporting falls short of OWCP standards, or the billing is routed to the wrong place.
Integrated Body and Medicine exists to solve that problem for the men and women who serve the federal government. We are a DOL clinic — a federal workers' compensation doctor practice that bills the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs directly, completes every OWCP form correctly the first time, and treats injured federal workers with the seriousness and expertise their claims demand. Our clinic is located minutes from the South Chicago state line in Highland, Indiana, and we serve injured federal employees from across the Chicagoland and NW Indiana region — from Pullman and Hegewisch to Hammond, Gary, and Munster.
Whether you're filing your first OWCP injury claim, navigating a complicated CA-2 occupational disease case, dealing with a denied claim, or simply looking for doctors that take DOL in the South Chicago area, we can help. Every service is billed to DOL-OWCP. You pay nothing out of pocket for authorized federal workers' compensation care.
Dr. Ahmad Sprouse is an internationally recognized Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine practicing in Highland, Indiana — minutes from the South Chicago metro. An esteemed graduate of National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL, Dr. Sprouse has spent his career building the kind of practice federal workers actually need: deep expertise in occupational injury, meticulous DOL-OWCP documentation, and the patient-first care that earned him Best of the Region Chiropractor by the NWI Times every year from 2019 through 2025.
For injured federal employees across South Chicago, Southside Chicago, and Northwest Indiana, Dr. Sprouse provides full-spectrum chiropractic and occupational medicine care under FECA — backed by the credentials, the experience, and the federal claim fluency your case requires.
- Best of the Region Chiropractor — NWI Times (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Best Spinal Decompression Doctor — International Medical Advisory Board on Spinal Decompression (2024)
- Certified Medical Examiner — Federal Registry
- Certified Orthotic Fitter — Board of Certification Accreditation (BOC)
- Certified Webster Technique — International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)
- Doctor of Chiropractic — National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, IL
Your regular doctor isn't enough.
Federal workers' compensation is a separate system with separate rules. The doctor you see in the first weeks after your injury decides whether your OWCP claim succeeds — or quietly fails on missing documentation.
What you risk:
- May not accept DOL-OWCP billing at all
- Unfamiliar with CA-1, CA-2, CA-7 federal forms
- Generic medical reports that fail OWCP review
- May bill your private insurance by mistake
- Could miss critical deadlines (COP, statute of limitations)
- Higher risk of claim denial or controversion
- Doesn't know federal worker rights under FECA
What you get with Dr. Sprouse:
- Direct DOL-OWCP billing — never charged to you
- Expert with every OWCP form (CA-1, CA-2, CA-7, OWCP-957)
- Detailed medical reports OWCP examiners need
- Protects your private insurance from misuse
- Knows COP rules, FECA deadlines, and your rights
- Builds claims for approval, not denial
- Award-winning chiropractic and occupational medicine
Ready to see a real federal comp expert?
Schedule with Dr. Sprouse at Integrated Body and Medicine. We'll handle your OWCP forms, your treatment, and your claim from day one. Free claim review. Direct DOL billing. South Chicago and NW Indiana.
Contact the Clinic →What we treat at our DOL clinic.
The injuries most commonly filed under federal workers' compensation in the South Chicago and NW Indiana region — and the conditions Dr. Sprouse treats every day.
Back & Spine Injuries
The most common OWCP claim filed by USPS letter carriers and mail handlers in South Chicago. Herniated discs, lumbar strains, sciatica, and chronic lower back pain from lifting, carrying, and prolonged standing. Spinal decompression therapy available.
Shoulder & Rotator Cuff
Repetitive overhead reaching, lifting parcels, sorting mail, and operating equipment all take a toll on federal workers' shoulders. We treat rotator cuff strains, impingement syndrome, and acute shoulder injuries under FECA.
Knee & Joint Injuries
Slips, falls, twists, and chronic wear from years of walking routes or standing posts. Letter carriers, TSA officers, and VA staff frequently file CA-1 and CA-2 claims for knee injuries — we handle them all.
Repetitive Stress & Occupational Disease
Filed under CA-2 Occupational Disease. Carpal tunnel, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other conditions that develop over time from repeated workplace activity. We document the cumulative exposure OWCP needs.
Neck & Whiplash
From motor vehicle accidents on duty, slips and falls, and chronic postural strain. We treat acute and chronic cervical injuries and document the mechanism of injury so your CA-1 holds up to OWCP review.
On-the-Job Traumatic Injuries
Single-event injuries filed under CA-1 Traumatic Injury — including slip-and-fall, lifting injuries, motor vehicle accidents on duty, and dog bites (a common postal worker injury we see regularly). Includes COP entitlement support.
Every federal worker, every agency, in our region.
We treat injured federal employees from every federal agency in the South Chicago and Northwest Indiana metro. Special focus on the men and women of the United States Postal Service.
Postal Service
Affairs
Security Admin.
of Defense
of Prisons
Border Protection
Administration
GSA & all others
The South Chicago and NW Indiana federal workforce is enormous. Our region is home to thousands of USPS letter carriers and mail handlers working the South Chicago and Northwest Indiana districts, TSA officers staffing Midway and O'Hare, VA employees at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and surrounding clinics, federal courthouse personnel, IRS staff, Bureau of Prisons employees, and federal workers at countless other agencies. When any of these workers are injured on the job, Integrated Body and Medicine is the local DOL-OWCP clinic ready to help — with the forms, the treatment, and the federal claim expertise the case requires.
The federal injury system, explained.
If you've never filed a federal workers' compensation claim before, the alphabet soup — OWCP, FECA, CA-1, CA-2, COP — can feel overwhelming. Here's what every injured federal worker should understand before their first appointment.
What is OWCP?
OWCP stands for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs — a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. OWCP administers federal workers' compensation for civilian employees of the United States government under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. When you hear "DOL-OWCP," it refers to this same program. An OWCP doctor is a physician who treats injured federal employees and bills DOL-OWCP directly for their care.
What is FECA?
FECA is the Federal Employees' Compensation Act — the federal law that provides workers' comp coverage to all civilian federal employees. FECA covers medical treatment, wage replacement during disability (including up to 45 days of Continuation of Pay for traumatic injuries), schedule awards for permanent impairment, and vocational rehabilitation. FECA is administered by OWCP.
CA-1 vs. CA-2 — which form?
Form CA-1 is for traumatic injuries — single-event injuries that happen in one workday. (A slip and fall, a lifting injury, a vehicle accident on duty.) CA-1 triggers entitlement to Continuation of Pay. Form CA-2 is for occupational diseases — conditions that develop from cumulative workplace exposure. (Carpal tunnel, hearing loss, repetitive stress injuries.) Filing the right form matters, because each follows a different documentation and benefits path.
Your right to choose your doctor
Under federal law, every injured federal employee has the right to select their own treating doctor. You do not have to use the doctor your supervisor or agency suggests. Choosing a DOL-credentialed physician — one who knows OWCP forms and FECA documentation — is one of the most important decisions in your federal injury claim.
Continuation of Pay (COP)
For traumatic injuries filed on a CA-1, federal workers are entitled to up to 45 calendar days of Continuation of Pay — your full regular salary continues while you recover. COP must be properly documented by your treating doctor and the CA-1 must be filed within 30 days of injury. Missing this window costs you money you're legally owed.
OWCP Forms You'll Encounter
CA-1 traumatic injury notice · CA-2 occupational disease notice · CA-7 wage loss claim · CA-16 authorization for examination/treatment · CA-17 duty status report · CA-20 attending physician's report · OWCP-957 mileage reimbursement. We complete and review every one.
Serving South Chicago & Northwest Indiana.
Our clinic is located in Highland, IN, minutes from the South Chicago state line. Federal workers from across both sides of the metro choose Integrated Body and Medicine for their OWCP-covered care.
South Chicago Neighborhoods
Northwest Indiana Cities
Three simple steps to expert federal care.
Whether you're filing a new OWCP injury claim or transferring care from another provider, becoming a patient at Integrated Body and Medicine is straightforward.
Contact the clinic
Fill out the form at the bottom of this page or call us. Tell us your federal agency, your injury, and where you are in the OWCP process. We respond quickly.
Schedule your first visit
We'll book your initial consultation with Dr. Sprouse, gather your federal injury paperwork, and prepare your case file. We handle the OWCP CA-16 authorization and any forms your agency needs.
Begin treatment & claim support
Get the care you need. We bill DOL-OWCP directly, manage every OWCP form, write the medical reports your claim requires, and stand by you from intake through final resolution.
After my injury at the post office, two other doctors couldn't get my paperwork right and my claim got controverted. Dr. Sprouse fixed it in three weeks. Real expertise, real care — exactly what an injured federal worker needs.
— USPS Letter Carrier · Verified Patient
What injured federal workers ask us most.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from federal employees, postal workers, and their families across South Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Where can I find a DOL doctor in South Chicago?
Integrated Body and Medicine is a DOL-OWCP federal workers' compensation clinic conveniently located at 8145 Kennedy Ave in Highland, Indiana — minutes from the South Chicago state line and serving the entire South Chicago and Northwest Indiana federal workforce. Dr. Ahmad Sprouse, DC bills directly to DOL-OWCP, accepts CA-1, CA-2, and CA-7 forms, and is recognized as Best of the Region Chiropractor by the NWI Times every year from 2019 through 2025.
What is an OWCP doctor and what do they do?
An OWCP doctor is a licensed physician experienced with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP). OWCP doctors treat injured federal employees under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), bill DOL-OWCP directly (so the patient pays nothing out of pocket), complete the required CA-1, CA-2, CA-7 and OWCP-957 forms, and write the detailed medical reports OWCP claims examiners require to approve federal injury claims.
Does Integrated Body and Medicine accept DOL-OWCP billing?
Yes. Integrated Body and Medicine is a DOL clinic that bills the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers' Compensation Programs directly for all authorized federal workers' compensation care. Injured federal workers with an accepted OWCP claim never pay out of pocket for covered services.
What is FECA and how does it cover federal workers?
FECA is the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, the federal law that provides workers' compensation coverage for civilian employees of the United States government. FECA covers:
- Medical treatment for work-related injuries and illnesses
- Wage replacement during disability (including up to 45 days of Continuation of Pay for traumatic injuries)
- Schedule awards for permanent impairment
- Vocational rehabilitation when needed
FECA benefits are administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) under the U.S. Department of Labor.
Do I have to use my agency's doctor for my federal injury claim?
No. Under federal law, an injured federal employee has the right to choose their own treating doctor for OWCP-covered care. You do not have to see the doctor selected by your supervisor or agency. Choosing a DOL-credentialed federal workers' compensation doctor — one who knows OWCP forms, FECA requirements, and federal claim documentation — protects both your health and your claim.
What is the difference between OWCP Form CA-1 and CA-2?
Form CA-1 is the Federal Employee's Notice of Traumatic Injury — used for single-event injuries that happen in one workday or shift (a slip-and-fall, a lifting injury, a vehicle accident).
Form CA-2 is the Federal Employee's Notice of Occupational Disease or Illness — used for conditions that develop over time from repeated workplace exposure (repetitive stress injuries, occupational hearing loss, hazardous exposure illnesses).
Filing the correct form is critical because CA-1 traumatic injuries trigger entitlement to Continuation of Pay; CA-2 occupational diseases do not.
Which federal agencies and workers does the clinic serve?
Integrated Body and Medicine treats federal workers from every agency, with a special focus on:
- USPS — United States Postal Service letter carriers, mail handlers, clerks, and drivers
- VA — Department of Veterans Affairs employees, including Jesse Brown VAMC and other regional facilities
- TSA — Transportation Security Administration officers at Midway and O'Hare
- DoD, Bureau of Prisons, Customs and Border Protection, FAA, IRS, SSA, USDA, and all other federal departments
What South Chicago neighborhoods and NW Indiana cities do you serve?
The clinic serves federal workers from across the South Chicago metro including Pullman, Hegewisch, East Side, South Shore, South Deering, Roseland, West Pullman, Riverdale, Calumet Heights, Jeffery Manor, and surrounding Southside Chicago neighborhoods.
We also serve federal employees throughout Northwest Indiana, including Highland, Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Munster, Whiting, Schererville, Griffith, Dyer, Crown Point, Merrillville, and Lansing.
What injuries do federal workers most commonly file OWCP claims for?
The most common federal workers' compensation injuries we treat include:
- Back and spine injuries (especially among USPS letter carriers and mail handlers)
- Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
- Knee injuries
- Repetitive stress and overuse injuries (filed as CA-2 occupational disease)
- Neck injuries
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Motor vehicle injuries on duty
- Dog bite injuries (common in postal worker claims)
How do I file an OWCP injury claim?
To file an OWCP injury claim:
- Report the injury to your supervisor as soon as possible.
- Complete the appropriate OWCP form — CA-1 for traumatic injury or CA-2 for occupational disease. Your supervisor must sign and submit it to OWCP.
- Get medical care from a federal workers' compensation doctor who knows OWCP.
- Save all documentation.
Integrated Body and Medicine helps with every step, including completing CA-7 wage loss forms, OWCP-957 mileage reimbursement, and reconsideration packages if your claim is denied.
What are the clinic's hours and location?
Integrated Body and Medicine is located at 8145 Kennedy Ave, Floor 1, Homestead Plaza, Highland, IN 46322.
Hours:
- Monday: 10am – 6pm
- Tuesday: 10am – 1pm
- Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
- Thursday: 10am – 6pm
- Friday: 10am – 1pm
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
The clinic is rated 4.8 stars across 284 patient reviews.
Schedule with Dr. Sprouse today.
Tell us about your federal injury and we'll get back to you to book your first visit, review your OWCP paperwork, and connect you with the care you need.