Welcome to the December DPD newsletter.
I would like to encourage you all to check out this BPAC page called Recovery at Work – reframing the conversation.
One of the metrics that ACC monitor looks at the number of fully unfit for work certificates issued by urgent care clinics. As I understand it, we are not performing well on the target and are issuing too many off work certificate. I understand the various reasons why this happens. Often, we are told by patients, and their employers, that there is “no such thing as light duties” and therefore we take the straightforward option which is to give someone a fully unfit for work certificate. ACC, however, would prefer certificates to be based on what we believe to be the physical and cognitive capabilities for the patient, based on their injury, and it is then for ACC and the employer to determine if there are any work activities that suit these conditions. It is not for us to decide if someone can or can’t do a specific work activity. Therefore, we should be giving most people with an ankle sprain a certificate allowing sedentary or even light duties and then ACC and the employer can determine if any work is available that meets those criteria.
This means that there are very few occasions when a fully unfit for work certificate is required. ACC give three situations when this might be necessary:
- Admitted to hospital or on total bed rest
- Need quarantining due to risk of infection and cannot work remotely
- Any work is a health and safety risk – for example, a TBI causing cognitive issues.
ACC wish to see fewer fully unfit for work certificates issued from urgent care and I would love for urgent care to show ACC that we are receptive to their advice and wishes. Please review the BPAC article. It has good information, especially the flow charts, and it has been endorsed for CPD so make sure to claim the activity in your UCCIS. In addition, to help explain to patients and their bosses why you have not given a fully unfit certificate, and to direct them toward ACC rather than returning to the clinic for the certificate to be changed to a fully unfit certificate, you can print this information sheet off from ACC to give to your patient. It will save you a lot of time and effort