Independent Medical Examiners
What is an independent medical examination?
Independent medical examinations (IMEs) are examinations conducted by independent medical examiners, which provide WorkSafe Agents or self-insurers with information about a worker’s injury or illness. This information may be used to make decisions about an injured worker’s entitlement to weekly payments and healthcare services. It may also be used to support an injured worker’s return to work plan.
Independent medical examinations are used to help WorkSafe Agents understand and assess the worker’s injury or illness to ensure they receive the appropriate entitlements and treatment. WorkSafe supports the necessary and appropriate use of independent medical examinations as an important component of the claims management strategy.
Who can request an independent medical examination?
The Accident Compensation Act 1985 allows for a WorkSafe Agent or self-insurer to request that injured workers attend an examination conducted by an independent medical examiner, who is approved by WorkSafe Victoria, at reasonable intervals.
A new focus for Independent Medical Examinations
How has the IME process changed?
WorkSafe has introduced a quality assurance process that WorkSafe Agents are required to follow when determining if an injured worker requires an independent medical examination.
The improved process will be applied consistently across all WorkSafe Agents to ensure that sending an injured worker to an independent medical examination is the most appropriate course of action and all other steps, including sourcing information elsewhere, have been taken.
Why has WorkSafe made this change?
Independent medical examinations remain an important claims management tool to provide WorkSafe Agents or self-insurers with information about a worker’s injury or illness.
This new process aims to ensure that when a referral to an independent medical examination is made, the referral involves:
- selection of the most appropriate medical speciality
- seeking the right information and
- the receipt of appropriate recommendations to assist claims management decisions.
What are the alternatives to an independent medical examination?
There are several alternatives to gathering appropriate information about a worker’s injury or illness. These include:
- a review of current and available information by the WorkSafe Agent’s in-house medical or health professionals and/or Injury Management Advisors
- a report from the injured worker’s primary treating medical practitioner
- external assessments (e.g. occupational rehabilitation)
- an occupational therapist’s activities of daily living assessment.
How does this benefit employers?
The process enables a consistent experience for employers regardless of which WorkSafe Agent they are insured with.
For more information
More information can be obtained from by calling the WorkSafe Advisory Service on freecall 1800 136 089 or (03) 9641 1444.
