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.

Surveillance – Sharp Focus or Blunt Instrument?

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

In my work as an independent medical assessor, and occasionally as a treater, I am asked to view video surveillance of compensation claimants. This occurred again recently and caused me to reflect on the whole business of covert surveillance. There … Continue reading →

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Why Insult & Injury? – The Video

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

See the brief video where I explain the background to this blog!

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Injured Worker Support Websites

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

There was an unexpected outcome from my last post about Medical Panels. There were comments about whether a particular injured worker support site really represented injured workers and achieved the goal of empowerment for injured workers. On the one hand it was argued that … Continue reading →

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Update on Panels Panels Panels Oi! Oi! Oi!

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

Since my earlier article Panels Panels Panels Oi! Oi! Oi! there have been some developments with the SA Government proposing the abolition of Medical Panels in that state, but I am yet to see anything to persuade me that properly constituted … Continue reading →

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My Queensland Experience – Implications for National Impairment Guidelines

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

I recently have had the experience of undertaking an impairment assessment for an unfamiliar interstate jurisdiction – WorkCover in Queensland. While I am familiar with the principles of impairment assessment generally and regularly undertake impairment assessment in other jurisdictions, my … Continue reading →

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PANELS PANELS PANELS OI! OI! OI! – Part 3 of IME’s – the good, the bad & the ugly

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

(With apologies to Australian Cricket Supporters) This is part 3 of a trilogy about IME’s. Here I put forward ideas about how the system can be improved. In some jurisdictions some of the improvements are already being put in place. There … Continue reading →

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How big is the Elephant in the Research Room?

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

  A really effective way to annoy a worker on compensation payments (or any worker for that matter) is to not pay them properly. It is even more effective if the worker is already on legislated step-downs in their weekly … Continue reading →

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IME’s – the good, the bad & the ugly – Part 2 – Current Issues

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series of blogs about Independent Medical Examinations (IME’s). This series is written from my perspective as a doctor treating patients covered by workers compensation or motor accident insurance. While all compensation systems are … Continue reading →

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Reflections on Medical Decision-Making

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

I’m working on Part 2 of my blog series about IME Assessments, but have been ‘distracted’ over the last week or two by my involvement in an AMA Tasmania Committee considering issues relating to Tasmania’s Workers’ Compensation and Motor Accident Insurance … Continue reading →

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IME’s – the good, the bad and the ugly – Part 1- What is an IME?

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Tasworkdoc

I know this stuff about definitions and standards is boring, but I need to set this out so you can make sense of what I plan to say about IME’s in the blogs to follow. So please bear with me. … Continue reading →

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