A primary treating medical practitioner (PTMP) is the medical practitioner chosen by the worker to participate in the injury management process. A worker has the right to select their own PTMP. It is usually the worker’s own doctor/GP.
The PTMP has an important role in the primary care, recovery and medical management of an injured worker. The PTMP will have continued contact with the injured worker throughout their injury management and return to work.
The PTMP’s role is to:
- provide primary medical care to the injured worker
- diagnose the nature of the injury or illness
- certify the worker's capacity/incapacity to work
- refer the injured worker to specialist care, or provide the injury management coordinator with information for them to co-ordinate care
- provide workers compensation medical certificates
- inform the employer about any specific work restrictions
- monitor, review and advise on the worker’s condition, progress, work capacity and treatment
- take part in developing return to work plans and injury management plans.
It is not the PTMP's role to determine liability on a workers compensation claim. For a worker to make a valid claim for workers compensation, they must submit a workers compensation medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner; that is:
- someone registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law in the medical profession; or
- someone authorised under another country’s laws to carry out the functions that, if carried out in Australia, would be required to be registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
Resources
Workers Compensation Claim Process for PTMPs and PTSD (PDF, 119.3 KB)