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WorkSafeBC

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Treating injured workers

Treatment from a medical or surgical specialist falls into one of three categories:

  • Trauma (treatment that is performed in an emergency, immediately following the injury)
  • Consultation (non-expedited or expedited)
  • Surgery (non-expedited or expedited)

As a specialist, you have reporting and invoicing parameters specific to each type of treatment. This section deals with expedited services.

Expedited services

Expedited services: consultation, surgery, and diagnostic imaging

When we refer to expedited service, we are talking about three different areas:

  • Expedited consultation by a specialist - the injured worker is seen and consultation is provided within 20 working days of the referral
  • Expedited surgery by a specialist - elective surgery performed within 20 working days of the date the surgery was booked
  • Expedited diagnostic imaging

Together they help to ensure that injured workers are assessed and treated in as safe and timely a manner as possible because the faster we can treat those workers and get them back on the job, the better for all concerned.

The expedited service does not cause longer waits for other British Columbians awaiting surgery, consultations, or medical imaging. In scheduling WorkSafeBC patients for surgery, surgeons will not displace members of the general public who are currently on waiting lists. Instead, WorkSafeBC uses public clinics during hours they would normally be closed as well as private clinics to offer expedited services to B.C.'s injured workers. WorkSafeBC pays specialists a premium for this service.

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Referral process to the Visiting Specialists' Clinic


  1. The attending physician indicates on a Physician's Report (PDF 117kb) to the WorkSafeBC medical advisor, requesting a referral to the Visiting Specialists' Clinic (VSC).
  2. The medical advisor and/or a WorkSafeBC nurse advisor reviews the request then consults with the case manager, and they jointly prepare a referral package to the VSC.
  3. The VSC then schedules an appointment for the worker at the nearest specialist's clinic.
  4. A visiting specialist meets the worker, assesses the injury, and recommends the appropriate action. This could include diagnostic imaging, surgery, or referral to another program or service.
  5. If imaging or surgery is recommended, the procedure is then expedited.

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Visiting Specialists' Clinic

The Visiting Specialists' Clinic offers expert medical consultations to workers, diagnostic imaging or surgery if necessary. The VSC is not an emergency facility. Visiting specialists provide consultations on orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, and general surgery. Located in the WorkSafeBC's Richmond Rehabilitation Centre, the clinic also operates satellite facilities in Terrace, Prince George, Vernon, and Nanaimo.

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Diagnostic imaging

When the attending physician believes such diagnostic imaging as an x-ray, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT (computerized tomography) scan is required, he/she completes a Diagnostic Imaging Requisition and sends it to the Visiting Specialists Clinic. The Visiting Specialists Clinic refers the worker to one of the clinics in the region authorized to provide expedited imaging services.

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Specialists' request approval for expedited surgery

Before specialists perform expedited surgery, you must get approval from the injured worker's claims officer. To obtain approval, fill out the Surgical Request Form (PDF 53kb) and fax it to WorkSafeBC at 604 214-5498 or toll free 1 888 922-8807. Be sure to include:

  • Your name
  • The date
  • The patient's name and claim number
  • Proposed surgical details (type of surgery and location where it is to be performed)
  • Consult report

For more information, contact the Visiting Specialists' Clinic at 604 214-6700.

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Your role in return-to-work

WorkSafeBC is dedicated to helping injured workers return to work in as safe and timely a manner as possible. While accomplishing this is a team effort, we recognize that physicians play a key role. For more information, go to the Physicians page.

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