AMA VICDOC Spring 2023 - Magazine - Page 45
quantitate their vision loss. As
it turns out, I do not use the
methodology for this purpose!
How would you define the
role and responsibilities
of an impairment assessor?
The role of an impairment
assessor is to accurately use
standard tools and quantitate,
as best as possible, impairment
suffered by a client. In Victoria,
the legislated tool is the
American Medical Association
Guides to the Evaluation of
Permanent Impairment 4th
edition. Other jurisdictions use
other tools and/or later editions
of the Guides. My expertise
is in visual system assessment;
when individuals have suffered
injury to multiple systems, a
collaborative approach is used
to assess the whole person
impairment. Use of impairment
methodology is a foundational
skill used in different ways
in medico-legal practice.
Impairment assessors consult
in multiple settings including
Medical Panels Victoria, for
the Wrongs Act in Victoria,
Transport Accident Commission,
insurers and legal firms.
The responsibilities of the
impairment assessor are to use
the standard tools correctly, and
afford clients natural justice. It is
not the setting to treat patients,
act as patient advocate or be
biased in any way, and requires a
different mindset to clinical care.
Why should a clinician
become an impairment
assessor and when do you
think is the right stage in a
doctor’s career to begin
this work?
Clinicians become impairment
assessors for multiple reasons.
For some it allows participation
in the medico-legal/compensation
system and ensuring clients are
managed in a timely way according
to the principles of natural justice.
For others it allows practice
diversification due to the different
population of clients, and different
mindset that is needed in working
with this group.
Mid-career is the best time to
commence this work. Impairment
examiners need to have broad
clinical experience to work with
referred clients. Examiners
need to be abreast of latest
developments and standard of
care, so this is not an activity to
be taken up only after retiring
from routine clinical practice.
In your experience, what
are the most rewarding and
challenging aspects of being
an impairment assessor?
The most rewarding aspects are
the diversity that it brings to
my clinical practice. The field is
very challenging in that it takes
some years to gain the expertise
necessary for best-practice
assessments. Taking a course
and learning the methodology
is only the first step. Being an
impairment assessor requires
continually refining the skills
over time.
How important has the
practise of impairment
assessment been in your
professional career?
It's been important because
of the diverse range of clients who
attend for assessment. I have had
the opportunity to see a much
wider range of pathology than
seen in routine clinical practice,
and I value the broadening of my
expertise that this brings.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2018,
A/Prof Mack was
the first woman
elected RANZCO
President.
IMPAIRMENT
ASSESSMENT
TRAINING
-
Are you interested
in diversifying your
portfolio of clinical
work by becoming a
qualified Impairment
Assessor for TAC,
WorkSafe and the
Wrongs Act in Victoria
(AMA4) or Workers
Compensation for SIRA
applicable in NSW and
other states (AMA5)?
Information on
modules covering
Victorian legislation
Information on
modules covering
NSW legislation
Impairment assessment
work can provide an
attractive income stream
for specialists (+5 years
independent clinical
practice) and has the
flexibility to compliment
private and public
clinical practice.
It also provides an
important social insurance
function for government
and the community.
AMA Victoria members
will receive a special
discount for courses
only in Victoria.
Please enquire at:
training@amavic.com.au
Click for courses
throughout 2021
VI CD O C AUTU M N 202 1
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