Hobart Occupational Medicine

Health at Work

OMIT Newsletter – Wednesday 04 September 2019

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Mandatory Reporting

The AMA held a successful forum last Saturday in Hobart that included a presentation by Dr Andrew Mulcahy about AHPRA’s processes relating to Mandatory Reporting of Medical Practitioners. There was assurance that medical practitioners should not avoid seeking help for mental health issues because of concerns about being reported.

I will circulate a copy of the presentation once it becomes available.

Issues for WorkCover Medical Advisory Panel

The Occupational Physician group have liaised with WorkSafe Tasmania CEO, Mark Cocker about the following list of issues relevant to occupational medicine in Tasmania. Hopefully these issues can be included on the agenda of the next WorkCover Medical Panel meeting and that a meeting can be arranged before the end of the year.

  • Strategies to improve engagement between OEP’s and WorkCover
  • Support for OEP training in Tasmania
  • Adoption of the National Impairment Guidelines in Tasmania
  • Interactive sessions between WorkCover and IME’s in relation to the newly released IME guidelines
  • Support for strategies in relation to silicosis risk in artificial stone cutting
  • Presumptive provisions in relation to PTSD claims

If there are any other issues please contact Helen McArdle.

Inaugural OMIT Dinner – Friday 08 November in Launceston

We are hoping that an Occupational Medicine dinner can be arranged on the evening of Friday 08 November 2019. More to come on this.

Practice Tip – IME Reports

As a Primary Treating Medical Practitioner (PTMP), when you receive an IME report in accordance with legislative requirements (Sect 90B 9(4)), make sure you read the report, consider whether you agree with the opinion and the likely impact before providing it to the worker under your care. In most cases, there will be little explanation to the worker required, but if the report is confronting to the worker or suggests a different diagnosis or treatment, consider whether you should arrange to see the worker to discuss further and provide the copy in that consultation. You can also consider providing a copy of the report to the other practitioners involved in the worker’s care. You could also consider writing to the insurer who organised the IME assessment (not the IME themselves), if there is a substantial error of fact in the report. See page 8 of the WorkCover IME Guidelines in relation to this subject – “Contact with the worker’s treating medical practitioner.”

Call for articles

I am looking forward to receiving items for inclusion in future newsletters.

Peter Sharman