An Approved Medical Specialist (AMS) is a medical practitioner accredited by WorkCover WA to undertake assessments of a worker’s degree of permanent impairment. Currently there are 189 AMSs on WorkCover WA’s Register.

With the increase of the fly-in / fly-out workforce, as well as injured workers recuperating in other states, WorkCover WA has recognised a need for increased availability of regional and national WorkCover WA AMSs.

Two key aspects of the accreditation process are:

1. training in the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which cover the medical procedures necessary to conduct assessments
2. training in the WorkCover WA Guides module, which cover processes specific to the WA workers’ compensation scheme.

In early April, WorkCover WA hosted Professor Mohammed Ranavaya to conduct AMA Guides training for doctors. WorkCover WA also supported sessions in NSW and Victoria, where Dr Alan Home conducted training for doctors in the WorkCover WA module.

Both groups of practitioners will work through the remainder of the accreditation process, which should increase the availability of AMSs for WA workers across Australia.

For more information about the accreditation process, see the Approved Medical Specialists page.

To register your interest in AMS training, email standardsmonitoring@workcover.wa.gov.au.