4.5.12.1 Types of requests for equipment & related services
Continence, wound care and nutritional equipment requests
| Equipment | Prescriber |
|---|---|
| Continence equipment |
Qualified continence nurse or urologist |
| Wound care equipment | Wound Management Specialist, where the injured worker has complex or pressure care wounds, or a community nurse. |
| Nutritional equipment | Qualified dietitian |
Agents may accept a prescription for a maximum of 2 years or request once-off supply.
Continence, wound care and nutritional equipment must be prescribed from the WorkSafe Contracted Supplier Equipment List using the Continence Equipment Request and Order Form – Hospital Discharge or the Continence Prescription (Community) Form.
Where requested items are not on the Contracted Supplier Equipment List, the Agent must provide the equipment order form to the WorkSafe Equipment Purchasing Team.
Medical beds and related items
In certain circumstances, WorkSafe may pay the reasonable cost of, or make a contribution to, the purchase of a:
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medical bed and related item
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companion bed or mattress for a medical bed
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non-medical bed and related items
An injured worker may claim the reasonable cost of a medical bed or a related item if they:
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are participating in a WorkSafe approved CIP Community Integration Program or have a spinal cord, acquired brain injury/traumatic brain injury or amputation as a result of their work-related An injury/disease is work related if it arose out of or in the course of employment and the scope of employment. injury; and
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can supply clinical justification from a suitably qualified Allied Health Professional (e.g. occupational therapist) for the requested item.
If the injured worker does not meet the above criteria and is recommended a medical bed mattress by the prescribing Health Professional, they will be required to contribute towards the cost of the medical bed in line with the WorkSafe contribution table set out in the guidelines.
Agents are required to contact the WorkSafe's Equipment Purchasing Team (email to equipment@worksafe.vic.gov.au) for all medical and non-medical bed, mattress and related item requests.
Where requested items can be ordered directly from WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers
With a prescription and valid quote from the prescribing THP Treating Health Practitioner, the Agent can order directly from a Contracted Equipment Supplier:
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Any item valued under $1,000 (excluding GST Goods and Services Tax) supplied by a Contracted Equipment Supplier
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Any item listed on the WorkSafe Contracted Supplier Equipment List including:
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equipment supply (purchase)
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equipment hire
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equipment trials
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equipment repairs and maintenance
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equipment retrieval (only for high cost equipment)
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installation
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delivery
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See: Processing requests for items ordered directly from WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers
Where requested items are small stock (less than $200)
See: Small stock items under $200
Where equipment requested is to be hired
- for >4 weeks it is recommended to purchase the equipment if total cost is less than $200
- if total cost is >$200, consider contacting equipment supplier to discuss cost/benefit of purchase vs hire
Where a hospital direct order form is received
Items not provided by Contracted Equipment Suppliers or the WorkSafe Equipment Purchasing Team
- prosthetics and orthotics
- small stock items provided by a treating medical practitioner, physiotherapist Registered physiotherapist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the physiotherapy profession (other than as a student)., chiropractor, osteopath or occupational therapist after in-rooms treatment
- regular services associated with personal safety equipment
For these items the provider must be WorkSafe registered and standard Agent approval processes to be followed.