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.

Strange Bedfellows! The AMA Insurer Forum in Tasmania

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

Before the weekend can start in earnest (I have made a commitment to clean out my car and wash the dog), I thought I should share some commentary about a process that has been underway in Tasmania over the last … Continue reading →

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AHPRA and IME’s

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

The WorkCover Victim’s Diary and Civil Forensic Psychiatry blogs have recently made commentary on issues with IME assessors and complaints processes. I have previously blogged about issues with IME assessors. IME’s – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Pt … Continue reading →

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Let me Explain! – the purpose of my blog

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

  Recently I have received criticism that I am blaming the system, specifically the insurers/claims agents, for poor outcomes and not directing any criticisms towards other parties, particularly the medical profession (or injured workers themselves for that matter). The purpose of … Continue reading →

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Prognosis or Diagnosis – that is the REAL question!

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

BMC Medicine recently published an open access “Opinion” entitled: The science of clinical practice: disease diagnosis or patient prognosis? Evidence about “what is likely to happen’ should shape clinical practice. This question is highly relevant in the workers compensation context. The … Continue reading →

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Tassie Compo Payments – WorkCover’s Response

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

  Since I posted the article Tassie Compo Payments up! – Looking behind the figures!, I have been able to obtain comments from WorkCover Tasmania. The only source of information they have is from the insurers, however WorkCover believes their figures … Continue reading →

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Are our compensation systems an occupational hazard?

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

According to Wikipedia, ‘A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment’ and, in relation to Workplace Health & Safety: ‘Although work provides many economic and other benefits, a wide array of workplace hazards also present risks to the health … Continue reading →

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More on Medical Panels

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

The following article I prepared was published in the AMA Newsletter last year. The Supreme Court decision referred to in the article had highlighted some of the issues about the use of Medical Panels in Tasmania that deserved some commentary. I … Continue reading →

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The T.I.P.S. Site

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Tasworkdoc

While ‘Insult and Injury’ is a blog focusing on impacts on health outcomes from workers compensation systems, another controversial subject is that of ‘RSI’. My new blog’s subject is what I have termed Technology Interface Pain Syndromes (T.I.P.S.) to encompass … Continue reading →

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Worker’s Compensation – Who is the customer?

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

“The Injured Person as a customer in the Tasmanian Workers Compensation System” A medical colleague commented to me recently about the above title of a presentation by QBE Insurance to doctors in Hobart. Can an Injured Person be a customer? QBE’s … Continue reading →

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Tassie Compo Payments up! – Looking behind the figures!

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

“Big jump in payouts for work injuries” This was the title in an article in today’s Hobart Mercury Newspaper. The newspaper article highlighted a 50% increase in lump sum compensation payments from $43.2M in 2012-13 to $63.6M in the 2013-14 … Continue reading →

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