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Approved medical specialists assess the degree of permanent whole of person impairment (WPI) caused by workplace injuries. These assessments are required in cases where the worker and the employer do not agree about the degree of permanent impairment.
WorkCover WA may designate a person as an Approved Medical Specialist if the person is a medical practitioner who WorkCover WA considers to be sufficiently trained in the use of the WorkCover WA Guides and satisfies WorkCover WA’s criteria.
Register of approved medical specialists
See the register of approved medical specialists operating in Western Australia.
Become an approved medical specialist
On 12 July 2011, revised criteria for designation as an Approved Medical Specialist were published in the Government Gazette.
The revisions to the criteria include the removal of the condition to have completed impairment assessment training within five years prior to applying for designation. The five year condition is no longer necessary as the designation criteria already require evidence of current practice and expertise in impairment assessment. This amendment will assist in building the number of AMSs available to injured workers residing interstate and improve access to impairment assessment experts.
The revised criteria also provide clarification and flexibility on the edition of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) medical practitioners are to undertake training in. The revised criteria specify that the relevant edition of the AMA Guides is that upon which the current WorkCover WA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment are based.
The current Government Gazette criteria for a person to be designated as an Approved Medical Specialist are set out below:
To be designated as an Approved Medical Specialist, under section 146F(1) of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, a person must:
- Be registered as a medical practitioner; and
- Provide evidence of current clinical practice and/or expertise in assessment; and
- Have undertaken training in the WorkCover WA Education Module, which includes training in the WorkCover WA Guides; and
- (i) have undertaken training in the use of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment upon which the current WorkCover WA Guides are based; or
(ii) Have current accreditation as a "Certified Independent Medical Examiner" with the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME); or
(iii) Have undertaken other training in impairment assessment approved by WorkCover WA; and
- (i) have qualifications as a specialist; or
(ii) be able to demonstrate competency levels acceptable to WorkCover WA.
Other (non-specialist) medical practitioners should note that in order to demonstrate the competency required, WorkCover WA will take into consideration an applicant's relevant skills, experience and qualifications. As a guide, WorkCover WA will review the extent to which a medical practitioner has -
- Significant work in a medical practice with consistent management and assessement of injured workers;
- Experience in undertaking medical assessments of injured workers;
- Relevant qualifications, for example, ABIME exam certification or other similar qualifications related to medico-legal assessments or disability assessments
Applications in this category will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The application form and further information is available in the Approved Medical Specialist Application Pack (PDF - 120kb).
Publications for Approved Medical Specialists
Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment - 3rd Edition (PDF - 2MB)
Issued under section 146R of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (The Act) for the purpose of evaluating the degree of permanent impairment that arises from an injury, as defined in section 5(1) of the Act.
Fact Sheet - Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment - 3rd Edition (PDF - 736kb)
Outlines changes between the 2nd and 3rd editions of the WorkCover WA Guides.
Guidance Notes - Procedures for the Permanent Impairment Assessment Process - third edition (PDF - 2MB)
Outlines the methodology, process and terminology of the impairment assessment process.
Forms for approved medical specialists
There are 10 administrative forms used in the impairment assessment process. Form AMS 1 is to be used by workers, employers or employers’ insurers - the remaining forms are to be completed only by an approved medical specialist (AMS).
These forms incorporate the legislative requirements and it is recommended they be used without significant changes to the format. If you have any questions regarding the use of the forms or the impairment assessment systems, please contact Advisory Services.
Request for Assessment
A Form AMS 1 - Request for Assessment by Approved Medical Specialist of a Worker’s Degree of Permanent Impairment (Word - 50kb) is to be completed by a worker, employer or employers' insurer, and addressed to the approved medical specialist. The person making the request is to complete all sections of the form and is responsible for ensuring contact details are correct.
The person making the request for the assessment selects from the register of approved medical specialists (AMS's) and should contact the specialist prior to completing the form to ensure they are available, as strict time limits apply for a worker seeking access to common law damages, specialised retraining programs or exceptional circumstances medical payments. It is also recommended that the applicant checks that the injury to be assessed is within the AMS's specialty area.
Requirement for Worker to Attend
Form AMS 2 - Requirement for Worker to Attend before an Approved Medical Specialist (Word - 50kb) indicates an official requirement to attend an impairment assessment. There are penalties if a worker fails to attend as required.
Production of Documents and Information
Form AMS 3 - Requirement to Produce Relevant Documents or Information for an Impairment Assessment (Word - 50kb) is used when an approved medical specialist requires a worker, employer or employer’s insurer to produce relevant documents and information to assist in the impairment assessment. The worker, employer or employer’s insurer must provide relevant documents or information to the approved medical specialist.
Form AMS 4 - Requirement to Consent to Another Party to Produce Relevant Documents or Information for an Impairment Assessment (Word - 50kb) is used by an AMS when they require consent from the worker, employer or employer's insurer, for another party to provide relevant documents or information required for the impairment assessment.
Form AMS 4a - Requirement to Produce Information for an Impairment Assessment (Word - 50kb) is used after an impairment assessment examination, when additional information is required from the worker.
Evaluation of the Degree of Permanent Impairment
The AMS is to produce a detailed Form AMS 5 - Report on Evaluation of the Degree of Permanent Impairment (Word - 130kb) and forward a copy to both the worker and employer with a Form AMS 6 - Certificate of Degree of Permanent Impairment (Word - 50kb).
This form may have the PIRs Rating Form (Word - 30kb) attached when a psychological injury is being assessed.
Worker’s condition not stabilised
The AMS will use Form AMS 7 - Report on Worker’s Condition Not Stabilised (Word - 50kb) when the worker has been assessed, but their injury has not stabilised to the extent required by the Act and the WorkCover WA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (PDF - 180kb). The approved medical specialist is to forward this report to both the worker and the employer with the Form AMS 8 - Certificate where Worker’s Condition Not Stabilised (Word - 50kb).
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