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The delivery of effective medical services is integral to achieving successful workplace injury management. To assist injured workers to recover quickly from an injury, the Acts administered by WorkCover provide for the appointment of:
- Nominated treating doctors
Responsible for coordinating all aspects of injury treatment and assisting in return to work management – the worker nominates this doctor, usually their general practitioner
- Injury management consultants
A registered medical practitioner who assists in the return to work process when differences arise between the nominated treating doctor, the employer, insurer and/or injured worker
- Approved medical specialists
A senior specialist, with a sound knowledge of the NSW workers compensation system, who is appointed by the Workers Compensation Commission to resolve disputes about medical issues or whole person impairment – the latter must be trained assessors of permanent impairment
- Assessors of permanent impairment
A medical specialist trained in the use of the WorkCover Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to assess permanent impairment for injuries incurred after 1 January 2002
- Independent medical examiners
A medical specialist with qualifications relevant to the treatment of the worker's injury and who has the expertise to provide independent, impartial advice to workers, insurers and the legal profession about causes of the medical condition, reasonably necessary treatment, the workers fitness to undertake suitable duties, and the assessment of loss for injuries prior to 1 January 2002.
NB: Although the List of Medical Services and Fees published by the Australian Medical Association was updated on 1 November 2009, the WorkCover Fee Schedules that refer to this list will not be updated until 1 January 2010. The 2009 Fee Schedules referring to the AMA list effective 1 November 2008, continue to apply to any medical services provided in 2009.
For more information on medical practitioners and specialist fees and guidelines, refer to links under Further Information.
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