Medical case conferences

Key takeaways

Medical case conferences

Why request a medical case conference?

When is a medical case conference held?

Participating in medical case conferences

Medical case conferences

Typically, the case conference will include yourself, your nominated treating doctor (NTD) and your case manager.

There may also be occasions where your rehabilitation consultant or other treatment providers, for example your psychologist or psychiatrist, dials in. If your case manager is unable to attend, your rehabilitation provider may attend on their behalf.

You or anyone in your support team can request a case conference.

Why request a medical case conference?

If you feel you are not being heard or understood, you are encouraged to request a medical case conference so that all parties can better understand your current circumstances to ensure they are working together to help you to achieve your goals.

Likewise, if you are concerned that your treatment team are not communicating effectively, a case conference is a great tool to bring your treatment team together.

When is a medical case conference held?

Case conferences can be held at any point throughout the life of a claim. Below are some examples of when a case conference may be organised:

• You are attending treatment, for example seeing a psychologist regularly, but do not seem to be noticing any improvements in your symptoms: Your case manager or rehabilitation consultant may request a case conference with you, your NTD or other treatment providers to discuss your treatment plan and determine whether there are other approaches that may be of benefit.
• You are unsure whether you can return to work with your current employer or have questions about the duties on offer: Your case manager or rehabilitation consultant may request a case conference with you and your doctor to discuss the different options that are available to you in the workers compensation scheme.  If you are comfortable doing so, your current employer may also dial in to discuss what duties they may have available.
• Your capacity for work has remained at zero for an extended period: Your case manager or rehabilitation provider may request a case conference with you and your doctor to understand what the current barriers are in your recovery and whether there is any additional support that can be provided to help you to move forward.

Participating in medical case conferences

Participating in case conferences is completely optional and your case manager will respect your decision if you do not wish to proceed. There are, however, numerous benefits associated with case conferences including:

• They allow all parties to come together and discuss your recovery journey, ensure that you are receiving the best treatment possible and that you are being adequately supported with your return to work.
• They allow the case manager to provide insights into the claim journey and what is available to you at different stages of the claim.
• They allow you the opportunity to raise any concerns you may have in a safe environment.
• They are a quick and efficient way for the NTD to liaise with the stakeholders on your claim.
• They assist with developing goals for your injury management plan, as well as aiding in ensuring that the key claim stakeholders are aware of all goals being worked toward, related actions, responsible parties, and timeframes.