The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has stepped up its experiment with virtual hearings with the release of an application that can be downloaded to iPhones.

Clarissa Rodriguez

The WCB VHC app is free in the iOS App Store, Board Chairwoman Clarissa Rodriguez said in a press release Thursday. The application employs an interface that guides the user from sign-in to the virtual waiting room and then to the video hearing, once the judge calls the case, she said.

“This will help injured workers not just here in New York, but in other parts of the country as well, by removing the burden of travel, which can be treacherous this time of year,” Rodriguez said.

The board said the app will be helpful for attorneys and licensed representatives as well. It saves sign-in profile information, allowing faster logins. Users can also remove a hearing from their schedule if information was entered incorrectly or if they are no longer appearing for a case, the board said.

Virtual hearings were first tested in the board’s Capital District Office in Menands in November 2017. They are now available at all board locations except Newburgh and Allegany.

For more information on virtual hearings and the new virtual hearings app, including instructional videos and other training materials, go here.