A pilot panel of medical experts has speeded medical decision-making for injured NSW workers from an average of six weeks to six days.

Insurance and Care NSW’s (icare) 12-week Medical Support Panel pilot has provided scheme agents with medical case support, hastening decisions and reducing the number of cases referred for independent medical examination.

icare has now extended the pilot into next month.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Colquhoun says the program aims to ensure injured workers get the best treatment in a timely fashion.

“When the right treatment is provided early to an injured worker, a successful and sustainable return to work can be more easily achieved,” he said. “This also enables employers to improve their return-to-work outcomes for employees.”

The pilot has resulted in only 19% of cases referred to the panel being passed on for independent medical examination.

The panel has supported 62% of new treatment and medical causation requests reviewed.

Over the next month icare will work with stakeholders to gather feedback on the medical panel program and examine other “process pain points”.