Our business is about Injury Management and Rehabilitation to promote a healthy and productive return to work.
bsschiff@imcnsw.onmicrosoft.com
Suite 502, 5th Floor, 160 Castlereagh Street Sydney, NSW 2000
0412 615 668
Our business is about Injury Management and Rehabilitation to promote a healthy and productive return to work.
Suite 502, 5th Floor, 160 Castlereagh Street Sydney, NSW 2000
0412 615 668
What is an IMC?
An injury management consultant is a registered medical practitioner approved by SIRA and experienced in occupational injury and workplace based rehabilitation. They work with the doctor and other members of the support team to negotiate a way forward in cases where there are barriers that are delaying, or have the potential to delay, a worker’s recovery at/ return to work. The injury management consultant may liaise with you as part of this process.
Identify Barriers / Reason for referral
Information to forward to an IMC where relevant
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is a Work Capacity Medical Certificate?
This is a tool for communication with the employer and the Insurer about the Injured Worker's Medical Capacity to return to his/her employment. This includes consent for the Doctor to release relevant information to key parties.
What is a Work Capacity Assessment?
A work capacity assessment undertaken by the insurer is a review of the worker’s functional, vocational and medical status and helps to inform decisions by the insurer about the worker’s ability to return to work in his or her pre-injury employment or suitable employment with the pre-injury employer, or at another place of employment.
The insurer may conduct a work capacity assessment at any stage throughout the life of a claim. It is an ongoing process of assessment and reassessment that commences on notification of a workplace injury and continues as needed during the life of the claim.
A work capacity assessment considers all available information which may include, but is not limited to:
• Reports from the treating doctor, treating specialist or other allied health professionals
• Certificates of capacity
• Independent medical reports
• Injury management consultant reports
• The worker’s self-report of their abilities and any other information from the worker
• The IM Plan (IMP)
What is the role of the Case Manager?
The Case Manager is the primary insurer contact for workers, employers and healthcare professionals.
The employer’s insurer appoints a case manager who coordinates all aspects of the worker’s compensation claim. They are the primary contact for the worker and support team. It is their responsibility to establish positive working relationships with all key parties. After receiving notification of a work related injury, the case manager makes early contact with the worker, employer and support team in order to determine the assistance required. The case manager helps the employer meet their legal obligations. They also arrange assessments or services for the worker, authorise payment for ‘reasonably necessary’ medical expenses, and determine the worker’s entitlement to weekly compensation payments. You are encouraged to discuss the worker’s capacity with both the doctor and the case manager. To facilitate case management you should respond to telephone calls from the case manager within five working days.
What is the role of the Nominated Treating Doctor (NTD)?
This doctor is most often a General Practitioner, though in some cases may be a medical specialist. This doctor has agreed to participate and take responsibility for co-ordinating all aspects of the injured workers treatments and return to work management. In choosing this role, the NTD agrees to communicate with all parties in the development of the Injury management, rehabilitation and return to work plans in accordance with the workers medical capacity.
The nominated treating doctor will assess, diagnose, and treat the worker like any other patient. They will also assess their capacity for work and support their recovery. Selected by the worker, the doctor is usually their general practitioner. The doctor has a key role in the worker’s recovery and rehabilitation. They: provide the worker with a completed certificate of capacity; act as the primary communicator for treatment and the injury management plan; are authorised by the worker to provide relevant information to the employer, insurer and other parties involved in the management of the injury.
What is the role of a Rehabilitation Provider?
Workplace rehabilitation services are usually delivered at the workplace and may involve assessing a worker’s capacity to perform duties safely promoting early recovery at/return to work; coordinating rehabilitation strategies to support improvements in the worker’s capacity; identifying options to help reduce work demands (including providing advice on equipment, job or workplace modifications); identifying and addressing risks that may impact the worker’s recovery at/return to work outcome; implementing and monitoring a plan to achieve an agreed recovery at work goal; arranging appropriate training and placement in alternative employment if the worker is unable to return to pre-injury employment.
What is the role of the Employer?
The employer’s insurer appoints a case manager who coordinates all aspects of the worker’s compensation claim. They are the primary contact for the worker and support team. It is their responsibility to establish positive working relationships with all key parties. After receiving notification of a work related injury, the case manager makes early contact with the worker, employer and support team in order to determine the assistance required. The case manager helps the employer meet their legal obligations. They also arrange assessments or services for the worker, authorise payment for ‘reasonably necessary’ medical expenses, and determine the worker’s entitlement to weekly compensation payments. You are encouraged to discuss the worker’s capacity with both the doctor and the case manager. To facilitate case management you should respond to telephone calls from the case manager within five working days.
What is an Injury Management Plan?
An Injury Management Plan is a document developed to outline the plan of action for the injured worker.
Explain fit for Suitable Duties?
These are duties within the workers capabilities and medical capacity but may differ from their usual pre-injury duties and / or hours of work.
Define capacity to work:
The ability of being able to do something; especially the physical / mental / financial or legal power to accomplish something.
Define Disability:
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person's lifetime.
Define Impairment:
An impairment is a problem in body function or structure;
Define an activity limitation
An activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action.
Define Maximum Medical Improvement:
On completion of treatment, if there is unlikely to be any further improvement in the workers condition, the worker may have achieved MMI.
Abbreviations in the world of Workers Compensation
CM Case Manager
IP Injured Person
IW Injured Worker
IMC Injury Management Consultant
IME Independent Medical Examiners (usually completed by a specialist in a particular field of expertise)
IMP Injury Management Plan
MMI Maximum Medical Improvement
NTD Nominated Treating Doctor
NTS Nominated Treating Specialist
PID Pre-Injury duties
PMD Permanently Modified Duties
Rehab Provider Rehabilitation Provider
SD Suitable duties
WC Work Cover
WCMC Work Capacity Medical Certificate
UNDER CONSTRUCTION