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Covid-19 Response for clients and other stakeholders

Covid-19 Response for clients and other stakeholders

With NSW lifting restrictions on Monday the 11th of October and Victoria and the other States and Territories to follow suit soon, we would like to outline our requirements for face to face appointments.

Any examinee who fails to comply with the following requirements will be turned away and a cancellation fee will apply:

  1. Case Managers must provide a Covid-19 vaccination certifcate a minimum of 3 days’prior to the assessment.
  2. The claimant must bring this proof of vaccination with them to the assessment.
  3. The claimant must also bring a current (no more than 48 hours old) negative COVID-19 test.
  4. Caimants must be wearing an approved face mask and following guidlines.
  5. Claimants must check in to the rooms using the QR Code or government approved manual sign-in.

No other person may attend the appointment with the claimant unless prior written approval from the Specialist is provided. If the claimant requires a carer / support person they must also comply with these requirements.

Staff at all our rooms will continue to comply with hygiene and the cleaning and wiping of surfaces as well.

Covid-19 Response for Doctors

Covid-19 Response for Doctors

You may be aware that I work with MAG as a Specialist Occupational Physician.

I also advise Boards and senior leaders within various corporate environments – insurance, legal, aviation, banking and professional services and mining industries to name a few – on a wide range of work-related topics.

The impact that COVID-19 is having on general workflow is unprecedented – including in the IME space in which we all currently operate – whereby the assessment methods have, until now, traditionally required face to face contact.

It’s important to MAG (and to all of us, really) that our business as usual is able to continue whilst there are wider discussions being held – and instructions starting to be given – around social distancing or isolation.

Having consulted with various MAG colleagues within a number of the specialties, we have quickly realised that MAG already has established methodology for the IME assessments to continue without the physical attendance of our claimants.

This methodology and the MAG solutions available not only appeases any concern we might have had about our own workflow; but will ably assist the referring clients in ensuring this important IME step within the claims process continues in a timely and seamless fashion.

The range of MAG solutions include video- and tele-conferencing capability which, with appropriate referral paperwork, is often is enough on its own.

Where there is an actual requirement for specific physical examination – or if this is something that is your personal or clinical requirement – then a modified functional capacity examination (FCE) can be completed by an attending physiotherapist or similar treating party.

This can be undertaken before the assessment with the FCE result then forming part of the LOI / attached referral paperwork. Alternatively, this can be undertaken at the time of the assessment with a present treating practitioner who will follow your instruction.

For me, it’s exciting to think that MAG has already considered these kinds of technological and process solutions which will allow us to keep working efficiently during these unusual times!

We’ll continue to keep you abreast of this developing scenario as more information comes to hand.

 

Security sorted!

Security sorted!

We know you have your favourite doctors and providers; did you know you can now book and use MAG’s portal as a secure way of working with these trusted professionals? With all the new security and privacy compliance issues we are all now facing you may be looking for a more secure way to transact and exchange documents with your providers.

We have developed the functionality for you to book your providers on our platform, even if your they are not on the MAG panel. This allows you to keep all of your IME’s, clinical notes, and imaging files on one, secure, online platform, and ensures that you still comply with all privacy and data breach regulations. Our automated system, provides paperwork and LOI reminders, as well as ensuring prompt doctor payment as we pay the doctors in the following month.

Login to MAG Connect today to check out our updated system or contact our team today for more information.

Clinical Notes and Imaging Services now available

Clinical Notes and Imaging Services now available

MAG is pleased to announce that clinical notes and imaging services are now available to be booked through our secure, online booking platform, MAG Connect.

MAG has developed a sophisticated online booking service to retrieve clinical notes directly to you from the one convenient booking platform. Now there’s no need to contact multiple providers, to provide claimant details each time, or to track progress separately. Supported by sophisticated back end automation and support, MAG’s clinical notes service is a cost effective and easy way to remove that administrative hassle from your team.

After partnering with leading national healthcare organizations, MAG is offering a full suite of imaging services available on our platform. MRI’s, X-Rays, CT scans and more are available across Australia for your convenience. By offering a full range of services across our platform, MAG reduces your administrative workload and saves you time and money for your personal injury cases.

New MAG Services: Book your IME’s, Clinical Notes, MRI’s and Factual Investigators all through MAG

New MAG Services: Book your IME’s, Clinical Notes, MRI’s and Factual Investigators all through MAG

MAG is pleased to announce a range of new services you can book directly with us:

  • MRI Services
  • Clinical Note retrieval
  • Factual investigators

Now there’s no need to contact multiple providers, to provide claimant details each time, or to track progress separately.

Simply contact MAG, provide your claimant’s details once, tell us which services you need, and we’ll do the rest. It’s that easy.

To make a booking or for more details please contact admin@medicolegalassessmentsgroup.com.au or call 02 8090 7611.

Specialist | Dr Glen Smith

Specialist | Dr Glen Smith

BSc (Hons), MBBS, FRANZCP, Cert. Addiction Psych.,GradCert Forensic Mental Health (UNSW) | WIA MAA

  • Consultation Waiting Time: Appointments available 7-14 days in advance
  • Report Turn Around Time: Less than 7 days, urgent reports available on request.
  • Sample Report: Contact us today for a for sample report.
  • Locations Available: Brisbane and Sydney
  • Video assessments: Any regional area in NSW and Queensland.
  • Call 02 8090 7611 to book Dr Smith today

 

  • Visiting Medical Officer, Northside Clinic, Greenwich – Drug and Alcohol Program
    (2009 – Present)
  • Visiting Medical Officer, Northside West Clinic, Wentworthville – Drug and Alcohol Program (2009 – Present)
  • Medical Council of NSW, Council Appointed Practitioner
  • Approved NSW Health Opioid Pharmacotherapy Prescriber
  • WorkCover NSW Trained Assessor of Permanent Impairment
  • Member of Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry, The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
  • Member, Australian & New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL)
  • Member of the Australian Medical Association (AMA)

Dr Smith specialises in treatment of drug and alcohol problems and admits inpatients for detoxification and rehabilitation to the Northside Clinic, Greenwich and the Northside West Clinic, Wentworthville. He is an appointed practitioner to the Impaired Registrant’s Program of the Medical Council of NSW. He has expertise and experience in medicolegal psychiatry having prepared reports for criminal and civil matters and the NSW Coroner. He has over 20 publications in peer reviewed medical journals in the areas of mental illness, substance abuse and homicide.

Available in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and Albury and for Video Assessments for Regional areas of NSW and Queensland.

Call 02 8090 7611 to book Dr Smith today for your trusted and reliable, court ready Medico-Legal report delivered time efficiently.

Specialist | Dr Hugh English

Specialist | Dr Hugh English

Dr Hugh English

MB ChB FRCS (Eng) FRACS (Orth) | AMS WIA GEPIOrthopaedic Surgeon

  • Consultation Waiting Time: Appointments available 7-14 days in advance.
  • Report Turn Around Time: Less than 7 days, urgent reports available on request.
  • Sample Report: Contact us today for a for sample report.
  • Locations Available: Brisbane and Sydney.
  • Video assessments: Any regional area in NSW and Queensland.
  • Call 02 8090 7611 to book Dr English today.

Current Positions and Affiliations:

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
  • Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
  • Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association
  • Member of the Australian Medical Association
  • Member of the Australian Arthroplasty Society
  • Member of the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy
  • Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of QLD
  • Certified Independent Medical Examiner
  • Approved Medical Specialist for WCC (NSW)

Dr Hugh English is our Hip, Knee, Foot, Ankle & Trauma surgeon.

Hugh is U.K. born and educated, and moved to Brisbane in 1990, completing his Orthopaedic training here.

He is the 6th generation Doctor in his family to have attended the same Scottish medical school (St. Andrews/Dundee) and a second generation Orthopaedic surgeon.

Dr English has undertaken extensive training both locally in Australia and overseas. His practice has a strong focus on patients with hip and knee concerns, in particular, reconstructive surgery of the hip and knee and arthritis.

Dr English runs a hip and knee clinic at the Brisbane Orthopaedic Specialist rooms in conjunction with an Orthopaedic Clinical Nurse to provide ongoing management of orthopaedic conditions; pre-theatre admission information sessions to ensure the best outcomes post surgery for all of his patients. Dr English has published and presented extensively and is involved in ongoing research of patients particularly with hip and knee orthopaedic conditions.

Available in Sydney and Brisbane and for Video Assessments for Regional areas of NSW and Queensland.

Call 02 8090 7611 to book Dr English today for your trusted and reliable, court ready Medico-Legal report delivered time efficiently.

 

Family and Criminal Reports

Family and Criminal Reports

SECTION 32 CRIMINAL LAW REPORTS

MAG provides Criminal Law reports in support of an application under Section 32 of the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act. These reports are commonly used to divert those who suffer from mental conditions away from criminal penalisation and towards getting help and treatment they need.

A Section 32 can be granted in situations where someone was suffering from a mental condition at the time of the alleged offence, or can be shown to be suffering from an ongoing mental condition during the court proceedings.

If your client has been charged with an offence and the court makes an order pursuant to  a section 32, the effect of such an order is that your client will not be dealt with under the court system, but rather by a court-mandated mental health treatment plan and will not receive a criminal conviction for this offence.

FAMILY LAW PSYCHIATRIC REPORTS

MAG now have Psychiatrists who can provide dual reports for the Family Law Court in relation to parental access children to children.  Previously, this was largely provided by psychologists and social workers, however, we have recently seen a trend towards greater use of Psychiatrist reports.


For more information or call us today 02 8090 7611.

MedicoLegal Assessments Group and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

Head Clash: concussion, mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury?

Head Clash: concussion, mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury?

If you pay any attention to the media, it would seem we have entered an age of prolific concussion and brain injury. The issue has been brought to the forefront, mainly through the coverage of concussions and their long term effects on sports people, with a focus on contact sports. But before we label the current incidences as a ‘concussion crisis’ with irrevocable consequences, it is important to know what a concussion actually is and how it differs from a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or even a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Concussion and mTBI are often confused, even in medical literature, and the terms are often used interchangeably. However there are some important differences between the two.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, a concussion is defined as an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. Concussions are usually caused by a blow to the head, acceleration or deceleration (whiplash), a projectile or an explosion. However this is not necessarily the criteria for a mTBI.

Dr Arthur Shores, a Clinical Neuropsychologist, points out the differences between the two medical conditions: ‘Concussion is the historical term representing low-velocity injuries that cause brain “shaking” resulting in clinical symptoms and which are not necessarily related to a pathological injury. In contrast, mTBI is part of a spectrum of injury severity that reflects a pathological injury. This is typically assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Westmead PTA Scales (WPTAS and AWPTAS) that are widely used in emergency departments and brain injury units in Australia. The assessment of traumatic brain injury and classification of the severity of an injury is reflected both by the depth of disturbance in consciousness (coma), as well as the duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA).’

Mild TBI

The operational definition of mild TBI (Carroll et al, 2004) is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Neurotrauma Task Force on mTBI as follows:

‘mTBI is an acute brain injury resulting from mechanical energy to the head from external physical forces. Operational criteria for clinical identification include:

  1. One or more of the following: confusion or disorientation, loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or less, post-traumatic amnesia for less than 24 hours, and/or other transient neurological abnormalities such as focal signs, seizure, and intracranial lesion not requiring surgery;
  2. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13–15 after 30 minutes post-injury or later upon presentation for healthcare.’[1]

Moderate to extremely severe TBI

Moderate TBI is defined by a disturbance in consciousness producing a GCS score of 9–12, and a period of persistent deficits in retaining new information and processing new memories (PTA) of 1–24 hours. Severe TBI is defined by a GCS of 3–8, and a period of PTA of 1–7 days. Very severe TBI is characterised by a period of PTA of 1–4 weeks. Extremely severe TBI is defined by a period of PTA of greater than four weeks. (Figure 1).[2]

Figure 1. Classification of traumatic brain injury severity.

Mild Moderate Severe Very Severe Extremely Severe
GCS

13-15

GCS

9-12

GCS

3-8

GCS

3-8

GCS

3-8

PTA

<1-24 hours

PTA

<1-24 hours

PTA

1-7 days

PTA

1-4 weeks

PTA

>4weeks

Concussion may be seen as a ‘minimal’ injury subset that falls below the threshold of mTBI (ie, GCS) score 13-15. This represents the majority of concussive injuries seen in sports (Figure 2).[3]

Figure 2. Sports concussion as minimal injury subset of mild traumatic brain injury.

McCrory-(2013)-Fig-jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment of outcome

Recovery from a mTBI can vary, however generally speaking, the severity of the mTBI will have a direct impact on the likelihood of a positive recovery. Dr Shores states, ‘Concussion and uncomplicated mTBI generally lead to full recovery, however repeat concussions and complicated or more severe injuries can lead to long term functional impairment.’ Dr Shores advises caution and care when evaluating an injury, as there are dangers in both over-estimating and under-estimating brain injury severity, particularly based on duration of PTA. ‘Duration of PTA provides a guideline to the severity of brain impairment and has been shown to be a useful outcome predictor of cognitive-behavioural-social dysfunction, with longer duration of PTA predicting a worse outcome. A careful scrutiny of the results of existing measures is necessary in determining severity of the injury. In contrast to mTBI, Moderate to Very Severe traumatic brain injuries are expected to have more permanent neurocognitive disorder than would be expected in claimants with mTBI. Neuropsychological assessments are useful in determining the severity of the injury and evaluating the outcome,’ Dr Shores states.

If you need a neuropsychological assessment regarding a concussion or mTBI, please contact our experienced team at MedicoLegal Assessments Group.

[1] Carroll, L.J., Cassidy, J.D., Holm, L., Kraus, J., & Coronado, V.G. (2004). Methodological issues and research recommendations for mild traumatic brain injury: The WHO collaborating centre task force on mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, S43, 113-125.

[2] Neuropsychological Assessment of Children and Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury: Guidelines for the NSW Compulsory Third Party Scheme and Lifetime Care and Support Scheme, 2013, MAA, Editor. 2013, Sydney.

[3] McCrory, P., Meeuwisse, W.H., Echemendia, R.J., et al. What is the lowest threshold to make a diagnosis of concussion? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47, 268–271.