SIRA Logo

Medical, allied health, workplace rehabilitation & legal providers during COVID-19

Information to help providers and practitioners assisting injured people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certification

Changes have been made to make it easier for injured people to access certificates of capacity/ certificate of fitness.

Certification by treating physiotherapists and psychologists

Treating physiotherapists and psychologists can now assess injuries within their area of expertise and issue the second and subsequent certificates to an injured person. No other allied health practitioner disciplines can issue certificates of capacity or fitness.

By broadening the range of health practitioners that can certify capacity for work, injured people will have greater accessibility to obtain certificates without needing to visit their nominated treating doctor.

Treating physiotherapists and psychologists can only certify an injured person’s capacity for work by completing the certificate of capacity/certificate of fitness - treating physiotherapist or psychologist. All other documents including Return to Work Plans are to be signed by the injured person's nominated treating doctor.

Issuing a certificate in the workers compensation scheme

The physiotherapist or psychologist must:

Note: If the worker seeking a certificate has more than one type of injury and is being treated by more than one type of practitioner, the treating physiotherapist/psychologist needs to consider whether the worker should be referred back to their medical practitioner to certify their overall capacity.

For example, where a worker has both a primary psychological injury and primary physical injury, but the physical injury is not impacting on their work capacity, however the psychological injury is impacting, it may be appropriate for the psychologist to issue the certificate. However, where both injuries are impacting capacity for employment, the worker should be referred back to their medical practitioner to issue the certificate.

Issuing a certificate in the motor accidents scheme

The physiotherapist or psychologist must:

  • have general registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a
  • be providing treatment for all of a claimant’s injuries as a result of the motor accident. Refer the person back to the medical practitioner if an injured person is receiving concurrent treatment from another health practitioner.
  • use the certificate of fitness / certificate of capacity - treating physiotherapist or psychologist form
  • only certify a person’s capacity for weekly entitlements.

Additional training for physiotherapists and psychologists

More information on the completion of the certificate of capacity/certificate of fitness can be found in the SIRA training package.

Certification by medical practitioners

The initial certificate of capacity for a work-related injury or condition must still be issued by a medical practitioner.

Certification by telehealth

Where appropriate, a certificate can be issued via a telehealth consultation. This type of consultation occurs by either video conference or telephone conference.

The ‘Injured person’s consent’ section of the certificate of capacity does not need to be completed by your patient when you conduct a telehealth consultation.

You however still need the injured person’s consent to share the certificate with another party, including the insurer. You can ask for the person’s consent verbally during the telehealth consultation or by email. This is to comply with privacy laws.

Medicolegal or independent assessments

Examiners should consider each matter on a case-by-case basis.

You should also consider the following:

  • the purpose of the assessment
  • the injured person’s unique circumstances
  • advice from the Federal and NSW Government, including the restrictions in place at that time
  • the appropriate method, or combination of methods, for the assessment.

SIRA has issued guidance material for both referrers and examiners to consider for independent medical examinations and reports during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Please refer to this guidance when considering and preparing for independent medical examinations and other patient assessments.

Examinations by video

Examinations can be undertaken by video (not telephone) in limited and special circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered a special circumstance.

As an examiner, you should consider each examination on a case-by-case basis and be confident that the method of assessment used will ensure accuracy in the examination and report.

Read the guidance on the SIRA website for more information.

Telehealth

Practitioners must consider the appropriateness of this mode of service delivery for each worker on a case-by-case basis and be satisfied worker outcomes are not compromised.

Practitioners are responsible for delivering telehealth services in accordance with the principles of professional conduct and the relevant professional and practice guidelines. They are to ensure that all care is taken to assure the safety, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the service.

Telehealth consultations must also be consented to by the worker.

Payment classification codes for telehealth services in the workers compensation scheme

For medical practitioners, refer to the SIRA telehealth item numbers for medical practitioners.

For allied health practitioners, refer to the discipline specific fees orders located in the current health-related fees.

Treating patients and possible transmission

To prepare and manage the risk of COVID-19 in your practice, please refer to the advice from SafeWork NSW and NSW Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health.

SafeWork NSW and Safe Work Australia have information available on their websites that provide advice for businesses.

You can also consider the provision of services via telehealth with your patients.