Occupational Medicine FAQ

You could see a KINNECT Doctor for one of our Occupational Medicine services, including:

• Independent Medical Examination (IME)
• Fitness for Duty assessment
• A general Occupational Medicine consultation

Find out more about our Occupational Medicine services.

Depending on your location, you will either see the KINNECT Doctor in person at one of our clinics, or via Telehealth. Your appointment letter will confirm where and how you will attend. Not sure? Check the Our Locations page or call us on 1300 546 632.

If you are referred to KINNECT for an Occupational Medicine service, you will see one of two types of doctor:

• An Occupational Physician (full name Occupational & Environmental Physician) — a consultant specialist who advises on how the work environment can affect employees' health, and how their health can affect their ability to work safely. They are experts in injury management and the health risks of common chemicals and hazardous substances. Occupational Physicians are qualified through the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
• A Senior Occupational Health Doctor — a doctor with considerable experience in Occupational Health, focused on helping people stay safe at work and recover from physical or psychological injury or illness. KINNECT's Occupational Health Doctors are all General Practitioners as a minimum, with many having completed additional training in Occupational Medicine. They are registered with The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Meet our clinical team.

Many of the workers we see aren't sure why they have been referred. Employers usually refer workers to us when they want an expert opinion on a person's health and work. Everyone's situation is different, but our Doctors often see workers who:

• Have been off work with an injury or illness for a considerable time
• Are experiencing a complex injury or illness, or set-backs in their recovery and return to work
• Are suspected to have, or are experiencing, a new medical issue and need guidance about how to keep working safely
• Have had an incident at work that has impacted their health and work

We think it is important you know why you have been referred before your appointment. If you are unsure, please ask your employer for as much detail as possible.

You should receive a letter from your employer confirming the time and location of your appointment. Our team will then contact you to complete a few forms — usually a consent form and a medical history questionnaire — before the day.

We send the consent form to you electronically. It explains how KINNECT will use, store and share your personal and health information. Our principles are:

• Usage — we only use your data for the specific purpose of conducting the required assessment.
• Sharing — we only share with your employer the information needed to make appropriate health recommendations. Your information is not shared with any other party.
• Storage — your information is securely stored for 40 years in line with the Australian Health Data Standards.

For more detail, read our Privacy Policy.

This form asks about your past and current medical conditions so our Doctors can make informed clinical decisions. It covers your health history, any surgeries, family medical history, medications and social history.

Please be reassured the information is gathered to help us understand the cause and impact of your illness or injury. Complete it honestly and in as much detail as you can — that way the Doctor has everything they need on the day.

Yes. You will receive reminders from our team ahead of your appointment by both email and text message.

The appointment with the Doctor usually lasts about 60 minutes.

Your appointment has three main parts:

• Informed consent. The Doctor will run through your consent again to make sure you understand how your health and personal information will be used, stored and shared.
• Your medical history. The Doctor will then go through your medical history and review any reports from your employer, GP, treating Allied Health Professionals or specialists.
• A general conversation. The Doctor will ask you about the nature of your illness or injury, your symptoms, treatment, the impact on your work and life outside of work. The more open and honest you can be, the more specific and useful the Doctor's recommendations will be.

After your appointment the Doctor may gather extra information before finalising their report. This could include:

• Follow-up conversations with you, your doctors or treating professionals
• A visit to your workplace or worksite to better understand your environment and daily tasks
• A functional assessment so the Doctor can understand your current physical capabilities and tolerances for work

Within 10 days, the Doctor will provide a report to your employer. A Final Report includes the Doctor's recommendations about next steps. An Interim Report may be sent if the Doctor is still waiting on more information — the Final Report follows once everything is in.

Recommendations are specific to your situation, your job role and where you are in your recovery. They are there to keep you safe. Our Doctors are advocates for The Health Benefits of Good Work — they believe work is good for you and that, with the right tweaks, can really aid your recovery. Recommendations may include:

• Light duties
• Some restrictions on particular tasks or duties for a period of time
• Avoiding safety-critical work while you are still recovering
• Temporarily moving to a different site or role while you recover
• Preventing your re-exposure to a particular safety risk

Please note it is not within the Doctor's scope to recommend that your employment be terminated.

Unfortunately we can't provide you with a copy of the Doctor's report directly — but the good news is you can ask your employer for it.