Injured to Empowered: One Call’s Amnon Rattray Shares His Recovery Journey

“You never forget the day you almost died.”

Those were Amnon Rattray’s words as he shared the haunting details of his catastrophic workplace injury.

A truck driver for a large beverage distributor at the time, Rattray was cruising down Florida’s I-295 North that fateful November 2011 morning when his truck’s front right tire blew out, causing Rattray to lose connection to the steering column. The truck jackknifed, crossing the median into opposing traffic, and hit the side wall over St. John’s Bluff Road in Jacksonville. There, it stopped, but the damage was done.

Rattray, in and out of consciousness, was pulled from the wreckage by the jaws of life. Paramedics monitored him closely en route to the hospital, where he learned of the extent of his injuries.

“The accident left me with severe injuries to my arm and leg. My radius and ulna, the two bones in my forearm, both snapped in half, with part of the bone protruding through the skin,” he shared. “My patella, or kneecap, was also displaced, having shifted up into my thigh.”

Amnon suffered extensive injuries to his arm, as shown here.

Rattray underwent immediate surgery to save his arm.

A few days later while recovering at home, Rattray received a phone call: “It was One Call, but I didn’t really know who they were at the time.”

Uncertain though it seemed, however, that phone call would catapult him into a successful recovery — and, to his surprise, a rewarding career.

Care in a Time of Crisis

Amnon Rattray, Senior Medical Service Coordinator, One Call

After Rattray’s initial injuries healed, he needed a second surgery for his knee. Healing took time, and for the better part of a year, Rattray had to relearn how to walk. Luckily, he had a team on his side that made each step forward an easy one to take.

“I had never been in a work-related injury situation before and wasn’t familiar with the workers’ compensation process,” Rattray shared of those early days. “One Call promptly sent me various medical equipment, including crutches, a wheelchair, a TENS unit with batteries, braces, and a cane. They also arranged my physical therapy sessions, diagnostic screenings, and transportation.”

This attention to his recovery and the level of care began to put Rattray at ease. One Call remained responsive and clear about his treatment plan, and informed him he would need additional surgery later in the process.

“They took excellent care of me,” he said.

Early in his physical therapy journey, Rattray was told he would walk again, but he might not be able to run or jog due to the nature of his knee injury. Rattray understood, however, by losing such abilities, his quality of life would suffer. This only bred a sense of determination.

Because One Call got him into physical therapy early, Rattray began the recovery process quickly.

“Once I reached a point in PT where I could walk again, I decided to be proactive,” he said, noting that he took what he learned in PT and put in extra hours at home to strengthen his knee.

Today, he can run, jog and even perform more advanced movements like flips and cartwheels. In fact, he’s taken this newfound mobility and carved out a space as a fire performer: “During my recovery, I discovered a new passion and talent for performing. This enabled me to express myself in new ways and connect with others through fire art.”

His injured worker experience began to show him the healing power of having somebody on his side. It ignited something inside this fire performer: Five years after his accident, a position opened up at One Call for a care coordinator.

Today, Rattray dutifully fills that role.

Do Unto Others

Rattray did return to his employer after the accident, but he was no longer driving. Instead, he filled a light-duty role within the office. He spent those five years after his accident in other roles with other employers, but none felt like the right fit.

So, when the opportunity to work for One Call as a dedicated employee arose, he jumped at the chance.

“I know what it is like to experience a workplace injury firsthand,” he said. “I can empathize with other injured workers’ situations and assure them I will provide the information and support they need.”

Nikia Rogers, Operations Supervisor, One Call

Rattray’s official title is senior medical service coordinator — central operations at One Call. He is in charge of handling new orders, like physical therapy, from payers across services. He then contacts the injured worker and provider to ensure appointments are scheduled and the details are clear.

“I take pride in ensuring that injured workers receive their services, equipment and home health care in a timely manner. Whether it’s arranging for nurses to visit on a schedule or providing the necessary equipment, I make it my mission to address all their needs,” said Rattray.

“Amnon excels in several areas at One Call,” said Nikia Rogers, operations supervisor, One Call. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. His attention to detail is remarkable.”

But perhaps the most important trait Rattray exhibits is his dedication to the injured workers themselves.

“If an injured worker is expressing anxiety or frustration, Amnon will step up to take the call,” Rogers explained. “He’s been there. He knows what this is like from their point of view. And he genuinely wants to help people get what they need.”

Amnon showcasing his newfound skills as a fire performer.

It’s Not Just an Injury at One Call

Rattray found out early on in his recovery journey that One Call was there for him, the worker. He was more than an injury.

By providing him with the right at-home medical equipment, transporting him to his appointments, and coordinating PT and other diagnostic testing, One Call demonstrated what it means to empower the injured worker.

He’s taken that lesson and brought it into his career.

“By sharing my own story of being told I would never jog again, and yet now being able to run, I aim to inspire hope and motivation in others like me,” he said.

“I want them to understand that with dedication to their therapy, a positive attitude and One Call on their team, they too can overcome their injuries, regain mobility and return to their life after an accident.”

To learn more, visit: https://onecallcm.com/about/empowered/ .

This article was produced by the R&I Brand Studio, a unit of the advertising department of Risk & Insurance, in collaboration with One Call. The editorial staff of Risk & Insurance had no role in its preparation.