How are experts matched to the respondent in an investigation?
Experts are recorded on the database within certain categories, including their specialities, whether they have experience in metropolitan or rural settings, whether their client base is primarily adults and/or children etc. Those categories are used when selecting a suitable expert for a particular case. The aim is to have the best match possible having regard to the particular details of the health service provider complained about. The Commission aims to match the health service provider in a complaint and the expert providing a report as closely as possible. However, an expert does not necessarily have to be a peer; rather an expert must be capable of providing an expert opinion as to the appropriate standards. For example, a registered nurse can provide an expert opinion regarding the conduct of an enrolled nurse; a staff specialist an expert opinion about the adequacy of the conduct of a senior registrar; a registrar an expert opinion on the conduct expected of an RMO.
