Author Archives: Tasworkdoc

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About Tasworkdoc

As an occupational physician in private medical practice in Hobart, Tasmania - the southernmost state of Australia, I see workers referred by their general practitioners with various types of work-related injuries and diseases. These are mostly musculoskeletal injuries, both of traumatic and gradual onset as well as various associated psychological disorders. With interaction with patients for treatment and providing advice about rehabilitation, I have the opportunity, first-hand, to observe interactions between individual patients and compensation systems. I also conduct independent medical assessments, including impairment assessments for musculoskeletal injuries and asbestos-related disease compensation. This provides another perspective of workers within compensation systems.

Barry Gilbert on IME’s

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

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 … Continue reading →

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A Day at the Beach – Just how much of a GP’s time involves Workers’ Compensation?

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

In a comment about Tilting at Windmills, Richard Gilley made the following statement: “The total Tasmanian workers compensation medical benefit spend for 2014/15 was $43 million. HIC payments to Tasmanian GPs (NRAs) in 2014/15 were $130 million i.e. not counting … Continue reading →

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Tilting at Windmills?

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

  In response to my recent article commenting on the ComminInsure scandal there was a feisty response from Richard Gilley on LinkedIn – in the  Group Workers Compensation Australia. The thrust of his comment was to point out the conflict between a … Continue reading →

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The Power of Social Media

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

  I only ‘met’ Mark Stipic “The WorkCover Guy” quite recently and I am still to meet him close up in the real world. We were apparently both present at the December 2015 ISCRR Forum in Melbourne, but I didn’t know … Continue reading →

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Another Elephant? – Lessons from the Comminsure Scandal

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

The ‘Comminisure’ Scandal broke this week putting a media focus on the role of doctors within organisations and the potential for commercial interests to over ride the usual ethics of the medical profession. For those who didn’t watch 4 Corners … Continue reading →

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WRP Standards at Risk from Red-Tape Reduction

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

  The Tasmanian Government has embarked on a ‘Red-Tape Reduction’ Review in relation to the state-based Workers Compensation System. The review process is overseen by the WorkSafe Tasmania and the WorkCover Board. Following a consultation process with the stakeholders the … Continue reading →

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Towards Simplicity – Complex Case Management by Doctors

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

Information about how doctors can improve outcomes in compensation systems using a complex case management model Continue reading →

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Information for IME Assessors and Expert Witnesses

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

Readers of this blog might be interested to read the following article on my practice website about new Tasmanian requirements for IME assessment and giving expert evidence in court. See link below: Article

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The Insult of Complexity

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

At the recent ISCRR Research Forum held in Melbourne, Dr Jason Thompson gave an informative presentation that resonated with my experience as an occupational physician providing care for people within compensation systems. Dr Thompson explained how complexity increases almost exponentially with the … Continue reading →

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What to expect in 2016

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Tasworkdoc

Over the coming 12 months, I hope to continue publishing material on ‘Insult & Injury’ relevant to the improvement in design of our workers compensation systems. It is an exciting time in this field with increasing recognition of modifiable factors … Continue reading →

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