A practical session for GPs who treat injured workers under the Victorian WorkCover scheme.

This session explains how clinical notes, certificates and medical reports are commonly used by insurers, lawyers and courts in WorkCover disputes. It will cover the types of entries that tend to become important later, including mechanism of injury, work capacity, treatment rationale, consistency of symptoms, pre-existing conditions, aggravations and prognosis.

The session is not about encouraging claims or creating a referral arrangement. It is designed to help GPs understand how their clinical records may be interpreted in a legal context, so they can continue documenting clearly, accurately and defensibly when treating injured workers. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, attendees will understand:

1. How clinical notes may be used in WorkCover disputes, serious injury applications and common law claims.
   
2. The key issues lawyers and insurers look for in treating records, including causation, capacity, consistency and prognosis.
   
3. Common documentation issues that can unintentionally create confusion for injured workers, doctors and insurers.
   
4. When an injured worker may benefit from independent legal advice.
   
5. How clear clinical records can reduce unnecessary follow-up, disputes and medico-legal friction.