The Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2016 includes provisions to remove the requirement for medical practitioners to be accredited by WorkCover to issue Workers Compensation Medical Certificates and to make significant changes to the WorkCover Board.The requirement for accreditation of medical practitioners to conduct assessments of Whole Person Impairment (WPI) will remain. The changes to […]
New Chief Commissioner Appointed
The Premier’s Office recently announced the appointment of a new Chief Commissioner of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Tribunal, Mr Robert Webster to replace the outgoing Mr Steve Carey. See link to announcement below: http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/new_chief_commissioner_appointed
ACHRF ‘Committee’s Choice’ Poster Award
I made a presentation at the recent Australasian Compensation Health Research Forum in Melbourne. The presentation was in the form of a Poster presenting the work the AMA had done in promoting the concept of ‘Complex Case Management’ as an alternative ‘clinical pathway’ for workers with potentially poor-prognosis work injuries. I was pleased to be awarded […]
Dr McArdle joins Hobart Occupational Medicine
The practice is pleased to welcome Helen to join the practice after a long period of service with the Tasmanian Health Department in various roles. Helen brings to the practice a wealth of knowledge and experience. Helen is available to accept referrals from general practitioners and provide expert opinion in her fields of expertise. See […]
Adverse Event Reporting
As from 01 March 2016, this practice has introduced a new system to systematically record adverse events affecting workers being managed with the various compensation systems that operate in Tasmania. This has come about in response to an apparent recent increase in such events and the lack of any available means to track such events through […]
Tilting at Windmills – Light Easter Reading?
There is an interesting discussion in the comments section of the Tilting at Windmills article I recently posted on Insult & Injury Blog. Richard Gilley from RiskNet is providing some data about the proportion of income earned from treating workers compensation cases which seems ‘out of kilter’ with my understanding. I am planning a ‘Fact […]
ABC Catalyst Programme – Back Pain
The ABC Catalyst programme that aired on Tuesday night is worth watching. Prominent and respected practitioners put central sensitisation and its relationship to ‘nociceptive’ pain into perspective as well as interesting pieces about the place for surgery and neuro-stimulators in the management of chronic pain Worth the 28 minutes to watch it. Catalyst Episode 8 […]
Podcast – Interview with Peter Sharman about Complex Case Management
For those interested listen to this podcast. See link below: Podcast – IV with Peter Sharman about Complex Case Management on RTW Nation
The ComminInsure Scandal – Does it have implications for workers compensation?
See my recent blog article about this subject. Another Elephant? – Lessons from the Comminsure Scandal Concerns have also been expressed about CommInsure’s excessive use of covert surveillance of claimants. See earlier blog articles on this subject Surveillance – Sharp Focus or Blunt Instrument? Surveillance Again!
Towards Simplicity – Complex Case Management by Doctors
This article explains how proactive doctors can cut through the complexity of workers compensation systems for their patients and help them recover. Link to article on ‘Insult & Injury’ Blog
