WorkCover imaging for workplace injuries
Accurate Diagnosis for workplace injuries
Sports Injury
Injured on the sports field? Stress fractures are often hard to detect through standard x-rays, but we offer a range of scanning services to ensure correct diagnosis of any sport injuries. Correct diagnosis and proper treatment will get you back to your team as soon as possible.
Depending on your injury and referral, diagnostic imaging may include an X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. Xplore works with workers compensation insurers and referring healthcare professionals so that the right images and reports can support diagnosis, treatment and return-to-work planning.
How does WorkCover imaging work?
If your treating doctor decides diagnostic imaging is appropriate for your workplace injury, they’ll provide a referral for the required examination.
The process will generally look like this:
- Get a referral. Your treating doctor or specialist refers you for the appropriate imaging examination.
- Contact Xplore Radiology. Tell the booking team that your examination relates to a workers compensation claim.
- Provide your claim details. You’ll need your WorkCover claim number and insurer information so the team can process your appointment correctly.
- Attend your imaging appointment. Depending on your referral, this might involve an X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
- Your images are reviewed. A radiologist reviews the examination and prepares a report.
- The report is provided to the relevant healthcare professional. This can help guide diagnosis, treatment and recovery planning.
Some diagnostic imaging can be performed without prior insurer approval within specific periods following an injury. Other examinations require approval first, so check before your appointment rather than discovering a paperwork snag when you’re already at reception.
What should I bring to my WorkCover imaging appointment?
Having the right information with you can make your appointment considerably simpler.
Please bring:
- your WorkCover claim number
- the name of your insurer
- your case manager’s name and contact details, if known
- your referral from your treating doctor or specialist
- photo identification
- any relevant previous imaging if you’ve been asked to bring it.
If your claim is new, or you’re not sure you have all the required information, contact Xplore before your appointment. The team can tell you what you’ll need based on your circumstances.
Imaging for workplace injuries
Workplace injuries come in many forms. A warehouse worker with a painful shoulder after lifting may require very different imaging from someone who has injured their ankle in a fall.
Your treating healthcare professional will determine which examination is clinically appropriate.
WorkCover X-rays
X-rays are commonly used to investigate suspected fractures, dislocations and other bone or joint injuries.
They’re fast and widely used following workplace accidents such as falls, impacts or crush injuries. Under current NSW workers compensation rules, plain X-rays referred by the nominated treating doctor within two weeks of the injury don’t require prior insurer approval.
If you’ve been searching for a WorkCover X-ray near me, let Xplore know that your referral relates to a workplace injury when arranging your appointment.
WorkCover ultrasound
Ultrasound can help investigate certain soft-tissue injuries and other conditions where real-time imaging is useful.
Under current SIRA rules, ultrasound requested by the nominated treating doctor can be exempt from insurer pre-approval within three months of the injury where the worker has also been referred to a medical specialist for further injury management. Diagnostic investigations referred by the treating medical specialist within three months are also exempt from pre-approval.
WorkCover CT scans
A WorkCover CT scan may be recommended when your doctor needs detailed cross-sectional images of bones, organs or other internal structures.
CT is particularly useful for some traumatic injuries because it can create detailed images very quickly. Depending on the injury, CT may be used to assess complex fractures or other areas that need more detailed investigation.
CT scans can fall within the same three-month pre-approval exemption as ultrasound when the applicable SIRA referral conditions are met.
WorkCover MRI
A WorkCover MRI provides highly detailed images of soft tissues and may be used to investigate workplace injuries involving structures such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and the spine.
For example, MRI may be recommended when your doctor suspects a ligament or tendon injury that can’t be adequately assessed using an X-ray.
MRI can also fall within the three-month exemption from prior insurer approval under particular referral circumstances. Importantly, GP referrals for MRI must meet Medicare Benefits Schedule criteria.
Your treating doctor, insurer or Xplore team can help clarify the administrative requirements applying to your examination.
For case managers, insurers and referrers
Good workplace injury management depends on getting useful clinical information to the right people without unnecessary delays.
Xplore Radiology works with referring doctors, insurers and case managers to provide diagnostic imaging that can support clinical decision-making, treatment planning and a worker’s recovery and return to work.
For workers compensation claims, imaging should be directly related to the work injury and considered reasonably necessary. Current SIRA guidance emphasises the role of appropriate clinical information in supporting decisions about treatment, liability and work capacity.
Xplore’s WorkCover imaging process supports:
- straightforward referral and booking
- accurate diagnostic imaging
- appropriate workers compensation billing
- communication with relevant healthcare and claims professionals
- reporting to support ongoing injury management.
Workers compensation services are billed in accordance with applicable NSW workers compensation requirements and fee arrangements.
Healthcare professionals looking for further referral information can also visit Xplore Radiology’s Referrer Hub.
Xplore confirmation required before publication: Insert the confirmed standard reporting turnaround here rather than promising “same-day” or another timeframe without operational confirmation.
What if my WorkCover claim is disputed or hasn’t been accepted yet?
A claim that hasn’t yet been accepted doesn’t automatically mean you can’t have necessary imaging.
SIRA provides exemptions that allow certain diagnostic investigations to proceed without prior insurer approval within defined periods after an injury. These include plain X-rays within two weeks and particular ultrasound, CT and MRI examinations within three months when the relevant referral requirements are satisfied.
Outside these exemptions, insurer approval will generally be required before a service is provided. SIRA also requires compensable medical and related treatment to be reasonably necessary as a result of the workplace injury.
There is also an important financial point to understand. If your workers compensation claim isn’t accepted, is disputed or is subsequently rejected, you may become responsible for the cost of imaging already performed.
That sounds rather more ominous than it usually is. The practical answer is simple: if you’re unsure about your claim status or approval, tell the Xplore team when you book so the requirements can be checked before your appointment.
WorkCover imaging FAQs
Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about WorkCover imaging.
Do I need insurer approval before getting an X-ray, CT, ultrasound or MRI for a WorkCover injury?
Not always.
Under current NSW SIRA rules, a plain X-ray referred by your nominated treating doctor doesn’t require insurer pre-approval when performed within two weeks of the date of injury.
Ultrasound, CT and MRI can be performed without prior insurer approval within three months of the injury when referred by the nominated treating doctor and you’ve been referred to a medical specialist for further injury management. Diagnostic investigations referred by your treating medical specialist within three months are also exempt.
GP referrals for MRI must meet Medicare Benefits Schedule criteria. Outside the applicable exemptions, prior insurer approval is generally required.
Will I have to pay for my WorkCover scan?
Where an accepted workers compensation claim covers your imaging, Xplore can generally bill the insurer directly. If your claim hasn’t been accepted, is disputed or is later rejected, you may be responsible for the cost of the imaging. Contact Xplore before your appointment if you’re unsure about your claim or payment arrangements.
What if my workers compensation claim hasn't been accepted yet?
You may still be able to proceed with imaging if it falls within one of SIRA’s exemptions from insurer pre-approval.
Whether an exemption applies depends on factors including the type of imaging, how long it has been since your injury and who provided the referral. Contact Xplore or your insurer if you’re unsure before attending your appointment.
How quickly will my results be sent to my doctor and insurer?
After your examination, a radiologist reviews the images and prepares a report. Xplore can confirm the expected reporting timeframe for your particular examination when you make your appointment.
Which Xplore Radiology clinics accept WorkCover referrals?
When booking, tell the team that your imaging relates to a workers compensation claim and provide your claim and insurer details.
Arrange your workplace injury imaging
A workplace injury already brings enough forms, appointments and unfamiliar terminology with it. Diagnostic imaging shouldn’t add another layer of confusion.
If your treating doctor has referred you for an X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI following a workplace injury, contact Xplore Radiology and let the team know you have a workers compensation claim.
Have your referral, claim number and insurer details ready when you book. If you’re uncertain about approval or payment requirements, ask before your appointment and the team can advise you on the information required.
Book your appointment at a location near you.
Leeton
79A Kurrajong Avenue Leeton, NSW, 2705
Phone: (02) 6953 4644
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 6953 7708
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Narellan
Phone: (02) 4648 4415
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 4648 0024
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Griffith
119-121 Yambil Street Griffith, NSW, 2680
Phone: (02) 6962 3335
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 5963 2721
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Leppington
Phone: (02) 8073 7834
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 8072 1509
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Camden
Phone: (02) 4610 4029
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 4610 8441
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Leeton
Phone: (02) 6953 4644
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 6953 7708
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Narellan
Phone: (02) 4648 4415
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 4648 0024
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Griffith
Phone: (02) 6962 3335
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 5963 2721
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Leppington
Phone: (02) 8073 7834
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 8072 1509
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
Camden
Phone: (02) 4610 4029
Email: info@xrad.com.au
Fax: (02) 4610 8411
Office hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 – 5:00pm
