MEDICOLEGAL

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Dr Zotti has undergone training in the AMA 4, 5 & 6 Guides [Coverage of all 3 guides enable Dr Zotti to perform assessments for all Australian states and territories] and is a certified independent medical examiner with the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners and a member of the Australasian College of Independent Medical Examiners. He has also has completed GEPI training. . He has an interest in injury biomechanics and has attended medicolegal causation courses. He has had years of experience with producing evidence based, considered and robust report writing and with the processes involved with TPD Claims.

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Our practice sets aside specific times for medicolegal reports - for referring insurers, regulatory entities, indemnity providers and legal clients please contact our practice manager: manager@backneck.com.au with the nature of the claim, details and timing required.

- Assessment areas - Upper Limb, Lower Limb and Spine [All states and territories]

- Assessment types - Motor Vehicle Accident Claims, Worker's Compensation, Public Liability Claim, Compulsory Third Party Claim,  Total and permanent disability claim, Department of Veteran's Affairs / Comcare, File Review, Supplementary Report 

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MEDICAL AND CLINICAL REFERRALS

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Dr Zotti aims to assess and manage patients in a timely and appropriate fashion but he currently triages referrals according to clinical information and urgency bearing in mind time urgent conditions that may require early decisions about intervention. Dr Zotti established the John Flynn Private Hospital Spinal Service for acute inpatient consulting in 2019. ​As a guide regarding urgent/early versus elective referrals:

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Early referrals:

• Emergency conditions such as Unstable trauma, tumor, infection [Ordinarily referred to the John Flynn On Call Spinal Service]

• Sudden weakness or disco-ordination of limbs such as in rapid onset foot drop or 'arm drop'

• Intractable pain in patients with demonstrated stenosis on imaging that have failed injections

• Cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy with neurological changes and/or inability to walk

• Disc herniations with neurological changes (other than pain alone) - the majority of patients will not require surgery in the acute phases unless the presentation is intractable pain or neurological loss

• Persistent nerve pain despite conservative treatment (cervical radicular pain, sciatica and neurogenic claudication)

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Elective referrals:

• Chronic and axial low back and neck pain (e.g. discogenic and facet pain)

• Deformity (scoliosis/kyphosis) without neurology

• Peripheral nerve compression without weakness (e.g. carpal tunnel)

• Coccydynia and sacroiliac joint pain

• Consideration for neuromodulation and spinal cord stimulators

• Second opinions

• Medicolegal opinions

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Dr Zotti sees:

• Private adult patients (Covered for spinal interventions under their policy)

 

Dr Zotti no longer routinely sees new uninsured, Workcover and CTP patients for treatment- if there is a specific reason, on a case-by-case basis with special reference to the referral and the purpose of the assessment, please contact the clinic. He believes there are better established pathways for appropriate and ethical treatment of these patients. The clinic has limited capacity for new DVA referrals (case by case) but we continue to review existing and past patients.

 

If you are a health professional and feel strongly that Dr Zotti should review your patient, please contact the practice directly or via email.