Reading Guide for Medical Practitioners - WorkCover Tasmania

INJURY MANAGEMENTSections 139 – 143QEffective injury management and return-to-work rely on the efficient flow of informationand the effective participation and cooperation of all parties, particularly the injuredworker, employer and medical practitioner.Medical practitioners have a number of roles and responsibilities in the management ofa worker’s injury and the Act gives rise to an expectation that medical practitioners willbe very much involved in a worker’s treatment, recovery from injury and their return towork.Injury management and return-to-work plans will assist injured workers to feel confidentthat their particular situation is being attended to in a professional and reliable manner.Return-to-work PlanA clear-cut injury management plan for aworker who is totally or partiallyincapacitated for work for more than 5working days but less than 28 daysInjury Management PlanA detailed injury management plan for aninjured worker who is totally or partiallyincapacitated for work for 28 days or moreThe Act requires insurers have:• an injury management program in place for workers who suffer workplaceinjuries; and,• an injury management coordinator who coordinates and oversees themanagement of the worker’s injury.Once a worker has being assigned to an injury management coordinator the injurymanagement coordinator is required to contact the worker’s primary treating medicalpractitioner. The worker’s primary treating medical practitioner and any other treatingmedical practitioners are to be involved in the management of the worker’s injury andreturn-to-work.An injury management coordinator is to ensure the preparation of the following:• a return-to-work plan within 5 days after the worker is incapacitated, eithertotally or partially, for work for more than 5 working days but less than 28; or,• an injury management plan within 5 days after the worker is incapacitated,either totally or partially, for work for 28 days or more.The worker’s primary treating medical practitioner is to be consulted on:• the preparation;• any amendments; and,• the reviewof either an injury management or return-to-work plan.Medical treatment and the primary treating medical practitionerThe role of a medical practitioner, within the plans, will vary from time to time and fromcase to case. A medical practitioner may be very involved in the selection ofalternative duties, or may make recommendations regarding the suitability of work. It isimportant for a medical practitioner to determine clearly the duties, which an injuredworker is capable of performing. To be involved in the selection of alternative duties itis important that the medical practitioner have a close working relationship with theworkplace and have a working knowledge of the functions of the organisation and theReading Guide for Medical Practitioners Version: 2, June 2010Page 24 of 27