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Injured Workers
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Employers
All employers play a crucial role in the prevention and management of workplace injuries.
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Information for Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Exercise Physiologists and Doctors.
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Home » Online Surveys » Surveys for Health Professionals » Initial Treatment Providers Survey NSW

Initial Treatment Providers Survey NSW

 

The professionals involved in the worker’s treatment and rehabilitation play an important role in the overall efficiency, and cost effectiveness of any workers compensation scheme.   Accurate assessment and timely interventions will promote the best possible healing outcome for injured workers and subsequently their capacity to return to employment.

 

The nature of the workers compensation and the processes involved in getting treatments underway; however, can be time consuming and unwieldy despite various legislative guidelines being put in place to maximise accountability and minimise delays for treatment access. 

 

The 2012 changes to the NSW Workers Compensation Act has included changes to approval processes for referrals to specialists, for investigative procedures and in a workers ability to gain access to treatment.  Prior approval must be given by the insurer except in some specific circumstances (see approval treatment services that don’t need prior approval in treatment providers 12 months and beyond) for referrals.  There are also legislative guidelines as to how quickly treatment providers should be paid for their services.

 

We are interested in finding out about your experiences are in these areas, particularly since 2012 when the new Workers Compensation Act was passed. The following question are aimed to target the key issues treatment and rehabilitation providers must deal with in the course of their work with injured workers:

 

To participate please enter your email address:
1. How long have you been working in the NSW workers compensation system as a Treatment provider or Rehabilitation provider ?
Select one answer from the below choices:
10+ years     5-10 years     3-5 years     1-3 years     0-1 year    
2. What is your discipline?
Select one answer from the below choices:
General Practitioner     Medical Specialist     Physiotherapist     Occupational Therapist     Rehabilitation Counsellor     Psychologist     Chiropractor     Exercise Physiologist     Massage Therapist     Nurse     Other    
3. I am aware of Workcover guidelines for gaining approval for an initial assessment and/or treatment. These include - whether prior approval is required, paperwork required to be completed and submitted, and time frames for agents to respond?
Select one answer from the below choices:
I am not aware and inexperienced     I am mostly aware     I am fully aware and experienced with this    
4. In the course of gaining approval and/or instigating treatment I find that agents respond to requests or the submission of requests promptly?
Select one answer from the below choices:
None of the time     Occasionally     Most of the time      Nearly always     Always    
5. When dealing with case managers at insurance companies I find them to be polite and helpful?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Almost never     Some of the time     About 50% of the time     Mostly     Nearly always    
6. When dealing with case managers at insurance companies I find most of them to be knowledgeable about injury management issues and treatment needs of their claimants?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Almost never     Some of the time     About 50% of the time     Mostly     Nearly always    
7. When discussing issues about treatment I find case managers at insurance companies reasonable and open to points being discussed?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Almost never     Some of the time     About 50% of the time     Mostly     Nearly always    
8. In the last 12 months I have found case managers in insurers as open to treatments or a rehabilitation initiative that has been proposed as before?
Select one answer from the below choices:
There is no difference to before the new legislation was passed     I / we are being asked more often to justify a proposal     Our proposals are frequently challenged     It is very difficult to get plans approved in many areas     I can’t comment - I have only started to work in the w/c system in the last 12 months    
9. In the last 12 months there have been an increasing number of requests to provide information in writing to justify a treatment or rehabilitation plan concerning an injured worker I am attempting to assist?
Select one answer from the below choices:
There is no difference to previously     I have had a “few“ more requests than previously     I am asked a lot more     Far more things are challenged or more information requested      I can’t comment - I have only started to work in the w/c system in the last 12 months    
10. When I have been asked to clarify treatment or rehabilitation issues the questions I have been asked have been appropriate and relevant to ensuring that only reasonable and necessary interventions are approved?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Always     Some questions seem irrelevant and are generic     The questions being asked are irrelevant or inappropriate on occasions      Many of the questions are inappropriate or irrelevant and demonstrate limited understanding of the particular case, and or in jury management    
11. The amount of information I am requested to provide in context of the fee I can charge under Workcover guidelines?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Is fair and reasonable     I have to be careful in how I use my time and respond      Takes up too much time and or doesn’t allow me to respond fully within the time frames     Is usually very unreasonable given the amount of questions asked and the expected level of response required     
12. The amount of time I am given to respond given my other workloads and the levels of response required ?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Is fair and reasonable     I have to be careful in how I use my time and respond     Takes up too much time and or doesn’t allow me to respond fully within the time frames     Is usually very unreasonable given the amount of questions asked and the expected level of response required    
13. When I respond to a written request, my comments and opinion appear to be acknowledged in terms of subsequent decisions re injury management?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Most of the time     Occasionally     Rarely     Almost never    
14. In relation to above I was requested as ?
Select one answer from the below choices:
A treatment provider for injured worker     An insurer preferred provider     An Independent rehabilitation service provider     An Independent assessor contracted by the insurer or employer    
15. When I/we submit our invoices for services we have provided?
Select one answer from the below choices:
We are paid promptly and within Workcover guidelines     Occasionally late      Our accounts are overdue most of the time    
16. When I/we submit our invoices for services we have provided?
Select one answer from the below choices:
The amount or service we have billed for is usually accepted without question     Our invoices are occasionally questioned      Our invoices are frequently questioned     
17. Working in the NSW Workers Compensation System offers good opportunities to practice and develop my skills as a professional health service provider in a way that I find satisfactory?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Always     Most of the time     Sometimes      Rarely     Almost never    
18. I find that working as a treatment/rehabilitation service provider in the NSW Workers Compensation System rewarding?
Select one answer from the below choices:
Always     Most of the time     Sometimes     Rarely     Almost never    
19. Comments on this survey?
Written Response
20. Suggestions for future surveys?
Written Response

More Information

Initial Treatment Providers Survey NSW
Questions for Treatment and Rehab Providers in NSW due to 2012 changes

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