I attended the ANZSOM weekend meeting held in Hobart last weekend. Dr Barry Gilbert, specialist public health physician and occupational medicine consultant, was one of the presenters.
I didn’t realise until I talked to Barry at the meeting that he is is now a permanent Tasmanian resident – hopefully this will help boost the depleting numbers of local occupational specialists.
Welcome Barry!
Barry’s presentation was about his take on IME assessments and I thought it was worthwhile posting his presentation so that perspectives other than my own get an airing on this site.
Barry Gilbert Presentation – The Independent Medical Examiner
My take home messages:
- “it is essential doctors always use their skills and authority to always act in the patient’s best interests”
- “being an IME shouldn’t be a vocation in itself”
- the challenges for IME assessment that stem from developments in the understanding of the mechanisms of chronic pain
- the value of “Peer review audit of reports”
- the value of IME assessors getting together to discuss impairment assessment methodology to improve consistency
A worthwhile read!
Insult and Injury 
Peter, I agree Barry’s presentation is a worthwhile contribution to thinking in this vexed area of medical practice. I do hope that some of those WA clinicians who have assumed the role of IMEs as a vocation take the time to read it. Initiating peer review of IME’s reports would, in my opinion, be a splendid way to commence cleaning out the stables.
Thanks John – unfortunately those who need to read these articles, are the ones who don’t participate in discussions.
Why would they ever wish to bite the hands that feed them so well?
This could be good news for those who perceive that their claims for permanent disability may have unfairly denied by those offering life insurance. http://www.afr.com/street-talk/asic-writes-to-banks-insurers-to-kick-off-insurance-probe-20160419-goaew2