Problems with Treatment
There are a number of potential issues at this stage concerning treatment and responsiveness.
These include:
- The treatment being inappropriate for the injury. The correct diagnosis still may not have been made or more information needs to be available before the most appropriate interventions are applied. This may involve referral to a more sophisticated test, such as an MRI because rest and interventions such as physiotherapy are exacerbating symptoms or having no positive results.
- Treatment may have been too early. For example a gym strengthening program ordered before the injury is treated correctly would lead to further problems with recovery or reinjury.
- Quality of treatment may be lacking and treatment providers may have a poor "bedside manner". This could lead to a lack of engagment in treatment and therefore reduce outcomes.
- Access to treatment can be an issue.
Poor access to treatment can be caused by:
- The Agent still not approving necessary treatment (deemed it as "unreasonable and unnecessary")
- Ongoing extended delays with approval and therefore commencement of treatment
- Conflicting opinions continuing between the injured workers team, and the Agent about the best way to treat and manage an injury
- Extensive delays in getting appointments to see specialists
- Delays and irregulalrities in accessing follow up treatment
What you can consider doing about it:
1. Discuss with your NTD. It has mentioned on several ocassions that your NTD plays an essential role in the management of your workplace injury and in the progress of the claim generally. After 4 months it is probable that setbacks will have occured - there will have been complications - and it is likely that your injury and it's management will have become more complex and time consuming. It is essential that your NTD not only manages your basic work injury, but remains focussed and committed to supporting you with the other challenges that occur - this may require a call to the agent, a treatment provider or specialist or a request for a case conference. It is essential that communication is facilitated between all parties.
2. Encourage your NTD to assist you in this regard if they have haven't initiated these actions themselves. If you consistently feel you are not being supported adequately consider changing your NTD. Although Workcover and the agents generally do not like injured workers to change NTD's ("doctor shopping") you can do so if you have a good reason. Accepted reasons may include: you have changed address, your NTD is not available regularly enough. It is better to identify an alternative NTD and get them to make the contact with the agent to notify them of the requested change.
3. Get your case manager from the externally appointed rehabilitation provider, to discuss your issues with your NTD, treatment team and Agent. A good rehabilitation provider will be opening up communication, assisting with the development of goals and time frames and helping to make adjustments to plans to deal with obstacles.
If the case manager is from a rehabilitation provider that was appointed by the agent or your employer, and they consitently do not seem to have your interests at heart, change providers. As mentioned, injured workers can have the right to choose rehabilitation and treatment providers.
