WorkCover WA, in consultation with its Medical Committee, has completed a review of the criteria for designation as an Approved Medical Specialist.

Revisions to the designation criteria have been made to assist in building the number of Approved Medical Specialists available to injured workers residing interstate and therefore improving access to impairment assessment experts.

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.

The second change to the criteria is to 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 revised designation criteria were published in the Government Gazette on 12 July 2011 and take effect from this date.