Medical Legal Services
Independent Medical Exams
An Independent Medical Exam (IME) occurs when a physician who has not previously been involved in a person’s care examines an individual. There is not doctor-patient relationship. IMEs may be conducted to determine the cause, extent and medical treatment of a work-related or other injury where liability is at issue; whether an individual has reached maximum benefit from treatment and whether any permanent impairment remains after treatment.
An IME may be conducted at the request of an employer or an insurance carrier to obtain an independent opinion of the clinical status of the individual. Insurance carriers, auto insurance carriers, and self-insured employers have a legal right to this request.
Impairment Rating
A medical impairment rating is completed by an independent professional in an appointment known as an Impairment Rating Evaluation (IRE). The rating gives a percentage number – between 0 and 100 – to the level of impairment, so the worker, employer and insurer can all understand how much the worker has been injured and how much the impairment will affect work. The results of the medical impairment rating determine how long a person might get benefits, how much compensation he might receive and whether he’s expected to return to work.
Please contact our clinic for more information or physician bios.
