Injurynet Guide For Medical Practitioners

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Injurynet’s Early Intervention Program

A Training Guide for Medical Practitioners

www.injurynet.com.au
Injurynet’s Early Intervention Injury Management Program
The Injurynet Early Intervention program provides telephonic triage support and
advice with prompt access to medical and physiotherapy appointments as soon
as a workplace injury occurs.
This is coordinated through our experienced in-house triage team of nurses, doctors and physiotherapists who specialise in
the treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses and understand the return-to-work process.

Our clinical services are provided by our practitioner network comprising over 6,500 doctors and physiotherapists across
more than 2,500 locations nationally in metropolitan and regional locations.

Key Points
Program Aims
The Injurynet Early Intervention program aims to minimise unnecessary disability after a workplace injury by providing clinical
services that:
• Focus on staying at work (SAW) or early return to work (RTW) if time off work is medically necessary
• Encourage communication with the clinicians and the employer about how to support the injured employee at work, and
recommending modifications and alternative ways to work
Employers participating in our programs will support their injured employee through provision of suitable duties and transport
to and from work, if required.

Evidence
The Injurynet Early Intervention program is based on the evidence that, in general, work is good for health and well-being and
long term work absence, work disability and unemployment has a negative impact on health and well-being.
A summary of the evidence and further information about the health benefits of work has been developed by the Australasian
Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which is available at www.healthbenefitsofwork.com.au

Early Intervention Budget


Injured employees treated under the Injurynet Early Intervention program are entitled to the following, paid for by the employer,
without an accepted Workers Compensation claim*^:
• Up to 4 medical consultations with an Injurynet medical practitioner
• Up to 4 physiotherapy consultations with an Injurynet physiotherapist
• Basic x-rays for acute diagnosis, such as arm or leg x-rays to rule out fractures
• Simple medications, such as analgesics and anti-inflammatories
• Simple ancillary items, such as tapes and bandages up to the value of $50
It is intended that a short course of early intervention services will help most injured employees to stay at or return to work,
recover and manage their injury.
An accepted claim for compensation will be required if time off work occurs or any service outside the budget is required.
This includes specialist referrals, MRI’s, diagnostic ultrasound, more than 4 medical or physiotherapy consultations, or
products totalling more than $50.
*In W.A, a Workers Compensation claim form needs to be lodged before the program can be accessed
^In NSW, Provisional Liability rules apply
Communication
At the end of the first consultation, if the injured employee’s manager is in attendance, provide reassurance and discuss
capacity with the manager to assist them in finding suitable duties.
If the manager is not in attendance, contact them at the initial or subsequent consultations if:
• There is a significant injury or status change and you are considering certifying the injured employee with no capacity
for work, or
• You feel the certified capacity is not complied with at work, or
• The duties do not appear to be suitable
The manager’s contact details are available on the referral form.

Certificates of Capacity
Certificates of Capacity must be clear and specific. To determine capacity, establish what the injured employee:
• Can do (e.g. lift up to 5kg)
• Can’t do (e.g. reach forward)
• Shouldn’t do (e.g. reach overhead)
Avoid listing specific tasks (e.g. “not to work in checkout” or “admin only”), or specific hours and shifts.
If you consider the injury or illness is work related, use the relevant State or Federal based Workers Compensation Certificate
of Capacity or, if required, an employer specific Certificate of Capacity.
If you consider the injury or illness is not work related, use a general Medical Certificate.

Physiotherapy Referrals
If physiotherapy treatment is required, please refer to your local Injurynet physiotherapist. If you don’t know an Injurynet
physiotherapist or practice in your local area, please contact us to provide you with a list or ask the injured employee to call
us and we will help them find one.

Injurynet Administration, Recommended Fees and Invoicing


All of the information that you need to provide Injurynet early intervention services is available on our website and can be
accessed using your account log in details. This includes our training modules, fee schedules, employer details and, for some
employers, job descriptions and task analyses.
Being an early intervention program, Injurynet fees are typically higher for the first 4 consultations. If more than 4 consultations
are required, and there is an accepted Workers Compensation claim, use the State or Territory Workers Compensation fee
schedule.
Remember:
• You can invoice for phone calls even if this is not a billable item in your State or Territory.
• Our fees can differ between our clients, so it is recommended that all fees are confirmed using our referral form as a
guide.
• Send invoices for medical treatment directly to the employer, not to Injurynet. Sending accounts to Injurynet will result in
payment delays. Our referral form includes details about where to send your invoices.

Please note: Only medical practitioners that are registered and trained by Injurynet can provide Injurynet services.
Injurynet’s 6 Guiding RTW Principles for Clinicians
Injurynet has developed a framework for practitioners to use in clinical management of workplace injuries. The principles are
based on strong evidence that remaining in the workplace maximises recovery from workplace injuries. The principles also
communicate to injured employees the importance of being in the workplace for recovery.

1 2 3
Stay at work / Return to work is the Time off work should only be Staying at work prevents the
central goal of clinical management certified when medically necessary* development and/or worsening of
psychosocial issues

4 5 6
Certificates of Capacity must be clear, Effective communication and Clinical management must be
specific and demonstrate progress teamwork are critical based on evidence

* Certifying unfit is medically necessary when:


• Recovery requires confinement at home or in bed e.g. hospitalisation, surgery, skeletal traction
• Work or activity is medically contraindicated:
• Will worsen medical condition or delay recovery
• Will harm the injured employee, others or plant

Note: This is uncommon, particularly when certified restrictions are appropriate and adhered to in the workplace.

How to Register with Injurynet


1. View the Injurynet GP Presentation which includes information about the aims and expectations of the program. At
the end of the video presentation you are required to confirm completion by email, phone call or via the hyperlink /
submit button on the website.
2. Upon confirmation that the training video has been completed, a time will be arranged for you to briefly review and
discuss the key points of the program with an Injurynet Program Manager.
3. Injurynet will confirm your registration as an Injurynet medical practitioner once the above steps have been
completed.

4. Retain this document as a ready reference guide.

To view the video

click here

If you have any questions, please contact Injurynet on (03) 9500 9968
About Injurynet
Since 1998 Injurynet has delivered innovative solutions for early intervention and injury treatment, work-related medical
assessments and medical advisory services across the employment continuum.

This includes risk based pre-employment assessments, periodic and specialist medical assessments, occupational
vaccination programs, medical advisory services and tailored injury treatment programs – all underpinned by our
commitment to solution based strategies and technological innovation.

Our business is singularly focussed on medical services in the workplace and we are the only organisation to have spent
nearly two decades developing, educating, managing, referring to and monitoring what is Australia’s largest independent,
national medical and allied health practitioner network.

Medical Assessments Early Injury Management Medical Advisory

Medical assessments and services 24/7 telephonic nurse triage support Specialised medical services tailored
to help identify, assess and manage and advice as soon as a workplace to your business to manage health in
risks impacting the health of your injury occurs. your workplace.
workforce. • Health surveillance
Nurse escalation to in-house doctors
• Pre-employment medicals if required. • Medical assessment design
• IMEs • Medical risk mitigation
Prompt access to, and coordination of,
• Specialised medicals & services • Policy formulation
medical and allied health appointments.
• Vaccination programs

Head Office: Phone 1300 57 40 40


Level 1, 173 Burke Road, Fax +61 3 9500 2721
Glen Iris, Vic 3146 [email protected]

www.injurynet.com.au

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