Clinical support services

Medical practitioners who are treating work injured patients have access to clinical support services to assist in supporting their patient's effective treatment, recovery and return to work.

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Second Opinion Medicine

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Second Opinion Pharmacy

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Medical Advisor

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Second Opinion Medicine

Second Opinion Medicine is a clinical support tool that provides treating medical practitioners and their patients with a work injury claim with quick access to a second opinion from leading South Australian medical specialists.

What does it involve?

Through Second Opinion Medicine, you are able to get input on the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment planning and/or approaches for supporting recovery and improving your patient’s functional abilities.

The Second Opinion Medicine service includes:

  • a consultation between the referred worker and the medical specialist
  • initial telephone feedback to the worker’s treating medical practitioner after the consultation
  • a short 1-2 page report containing advice and recommendations for improving patient recovery and functioning sent solely to the referring doctor

Please note, the Second Opinion specialist is unable to refer for further assessment or imaging.

A Second Opinion Medicine Service will not provide a medico-legal opinion or advice about claim liability.

When can I use Second Opinion Medicine?

A second opinion may be sought at any time during the life of a claim, when you have questions or concerns relating to the injured worker’s recovery or return to work.  The second opinion can also be sought if non-injury factors are impacting upon a patient's recovery and return to work.

Which specialists are available?

You can get a second opinion from the following medical specialists:

  • pain physicians
  • occupational physicians
  • psychiatrists
  • surgeons.

Other specialists may be available, contact a provider to discuss your needs.

How do I access this service?

ReturnToWorkSA have an arrangement with Second Opinion Medicine Service providers (PDF, 276 KB), who will coordinate your access to a specialist utilising a Second Opinion Medicine Referral Form.

Second Opinion Pharmacy

Second Opinion Pharmacy provides treating medical practitioners and their work injured patients with fast access to clinical advice, support and education from South Australian based clinical pharmacy experts.

What does it involve?

Through Second Opinion Pharmacy, you are able to get clinical advice and support from clinical pharmacy experts on any of your patient’s medication, including those not related to their work injury.

Information can be provided on dosage, medication alternatives, interactions between medicines and contraindications, side-effects, including preventative and management strategies, and management strategies to avoid dependence and complications.

When you request a Second Opinion Pharmacy Service in the following three forms

  • telephone service: Telephone feedback with the clinical pharmacist to obtain clinical advice about a patient’s medication. You can bill for this time.
  • desktop review: comprehensive clinical review based on information on referral.
  • in-practice service: consultation with the clinical pharmacist at the doctor’s rooms.

In home service

Medical providers can also refer their patients with a work injury for an in home service to provide them with education and information about (but not limited to):

  • their current medicines
  • how their medicines affect their medical conditions
  • interactions between their medicines
  • correct use and storage of their medicines
  • lifestyle factors that may impact their medicines
  • side-effects of their medicines, including preventatives and management strategies.

The service is voluntary - these is no obligation for your patient to participate.

When can I use Second Opinion Pharmacy?

A second opinion may be sought at any time during the life of a claim, when you have questions or concerns relating to the injured worker’s recovery or return to work.  The second opinion can also be sought if non-injury factors are impacting upon a patient's recovery and return to work

This service is available for work injured patients who have undetermined and accepted claims.

How do I access this service?

ReturnToWorkSA have an arrangement with the following clinical pharmacy providers;

Drug and Therapeutics Information Service (DATIS)
P: (08) 7425 8444
E: health.DATIS@sa.gov.au

Australian Medication Safety Services
P: 0413 800 539
E: chris@medsafetyaustralia.com.au
W:  www.medsafetyaustralia.com.au

Medical Advisor

Our Medical Advisors can provide clinical support and guidance on all aspects of treating patients with a work injury, from prescribing active recovery to clinical support and problem solving. To connect with our Medical Advisors, contact Scheme Support on 8238 5757 or email providers@rtwsa.com.

For general information about support services available, please contact Scheme Support on 08 8238 5757 or via email at providers@rtwsa.com.