16 hours ago · An IME, or Independent Medical Examination, is what happens when the workers compensation insurance company demands that you go to a doctor of their choice so that your injuries may be evaluated. Naturally many workers are nervous about this process because the doctor doesn’t seem entirely objective . What happens if the doctor lies about the ... >> Go To The Portal
An IME can be requested by different parties, including insurance companies, lawyers, benefit providers, employers or HR managers. An objective, independent medical evaluation report is provided after the examination is done to confirm or deny any benefits or settlements to the claimant.
In some states, you have the right to request an IME examination in case you disagree with the opinion about your medical condition or permanent disability by your treating doctor.
Remember that the key purpose of an IME is to obtain accurate information and expert opinion for the sole purposes of litigation. The IME is not supposed to provide you with a second opinion or medical advice or treatment. You may be asked to sign a form indicating so. Even though an IME doctor offers you advice, you’re not obligated to take it.
An IME is supposed to be an impartial assessment of your current medical condition, including what type of treatment you need, whether you have a permanent impairment and to what extent, and your ability to work in the future. The rules about who chooses the physician to conduct an IME are complex and vary from state to state.
Your health care provider usually must let you see your medical record or give you a copy of it within 30 days of receiving your request. Your health care provider is allowed to charge you for copies of your medical record. They can also charge you for postage. ∞ Correct your medical record by adding information to it.
Patient Must Be Competent to Make Decisions The patient must be deemed mentally competent to make decisions regarding informed consent and the consent must be voluntary and made under no duress. Physicians are responsible for making sure the patient understands that informed consent goes beyond simply signing a form.
seven yearsA doctor has to keep a patient's medical records for seven years. After that, the physician may destroy them. There is no requirement in the law that requires the physician to notify a patient prior to destroying the records.
3 Things Not to Tell the Doctor During Your IMEDon't Exaggerate Your Symptoms. Yes, you want to make sure your symptoms don't go unnoticed by your doctor. ... Don't Speak Negatively About Your Employer. Do not be rude or difficult, and don't speak negatively about your employer. ... Don't Lie.
Informed consent in New Jersey means that you have the right to know certain information medical treatments and alternative options, before you have them. Your medical provider must give you details about a treatment, its risks and any reasonable alternatives.
A nurse, dental or medical assistant, or other allied healthcare professional may witness the informed consent process between a patient and physician, and may witness the patient's signature on a consent form. They may not be delegated the responsibility of obtaining an informed consent on behalf of a physician.
Yes, it is obligatory for doctors, hospitals to provide the copy of the case record or medical record to the patient or his legal representative.
Public health reporting is mandated by law and is not affected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA specifically provides for public health reporting without a patient's authorization or consent.
Medical Record Retention Required of Health Care Providers: 50 State ComparisonStateMedical Record Retention Time Required by State LawCaliforniaRecords must be kept for a minimum of 6-9 yearsColoradoRecords must be kept for a minimum of 10 or more yearsConnecticutRecord retention is dependent on the type of provider48 more rows•Jan 27, 2016
If there is one good piece of advice about speaking to a doctor during an IME it's stick to the facts:Be straightforward in your answers but only answer the question asked.Do not exaggerate. ... Do not be chatty with the doctor. ... If possible, give yes or no answers to questions.Do not give lengthy answers to questions.More items...•
An IME is performed by an impartial, third-party contractor who is qualified to provide medical examinations. Unlike a regular or family physician, these doctors are simply consultants and are contracted to supply an objective medical evaluation for a specific case.
8 Tips to Prepare for your IMEBe on Time – Which Means Early.Dress Appropriately.Bring Someone With You.See Your Family Doctor on the Same Day.Be Ready to Explain Your Injury.Always Be Honest.Be Brief but Thorough in Your Answers.Talk to Your Attorney Before Your Visit.
About the New Jersey Medical Examiner System. In New Jersey, when a person’s death is unexpected and the cause of death is not immediately known, the death is investigated by the Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner also investigates deaths that are the result of violence or injury and deaths that occur in legal custody.
The law requires an autopsy in deaths: Involving a homicide. Occurring under unusual circumstances. Posing a threat to public health.
An autopsy is an external and internal examination of a body. Licensed physicians, specifically forensic pathologists acting as medical examiners, will perform forensic autopsies to determine cause and manner of death. After examination, the body is closed.
A standard forensic autopsy will take about two to three hours. Complicated cases may take longer than 2-3 hours, but in most cases, should not delay usual funeral arrangements. After the autopsy, the body is released to the funeral home. The funeral home prepares the body for viewing. Top ^.
Autopsies are performed for the following reasons: Public health . Public safety. Administration of justice. Autopsies identify: Evidence of crime. Environmental dangers. Work-place and other safety violations. Consumer product hazards.
The Medical Examiner autopsy, unlike a hospital autopsy, does not require permission from the next of kin. It is done under statutory authority. If the family has a religious objection to the autopsy, the Medical Examiner will make every effort to limit the procedure as far as possible.
Upon conclusion of the Medical Examiner's investigation, the body may be released to the funeral home of the family's choice. The family must notify the funeral home to contact the appropriate Medical Examiner Office. Top ^.
What does an IME try to achieve? 1 Assesses causation to a reasonable degree of medical certainty 2 Determines the nature and extent of a personal or work-related injury 3 Clarifies the specific diagnosis associated with a case 4 Assesses appropriateness and length of care 5 Offers treatment recommendations when requested 6 Determines whether an individual has reached maximum benefit from treatment 7 Helps set target date for maximal medical improvement (MMI) status 8 Assesses whether any permanent partial impairment (PPI) remains after treatment and if any permanent restrictions of activity are needed 9 Specifies medical restrictions and appropriate work restrictions
Often times, the IME physician is the only doctor who has reviewed the entire file of a patient. There is no doctor-patient relationship established with the patient when an IME is conducted.
The IME may conclude that your injury was unrelated to your work, that your injury is not as severe as your treating physician claims, or that you are physically able to return to work in a full or limited capacity. Based on these findings, your workers’ compensation insurer may try to deny your claim or stop your disability benefits. When a workers’ compensation arbitrator receives conflicting medical reports, they will use the report that they deem to be more credible. You can help your case by:
The IME doctor will give the workers’ compensation insurer an opinion on whether the workplace incident caused your injuries, the extent of your injuries, and whether you are capable of returning to work . Sometimes, the IME report will contradict your physician’s report, forcing you to settle the dispute with an arbitrator.
You may have appointments with multiple doctors after suffering a work-related injury. Your treating physician is your primary doctor who will diagnose your injuries, administer your treatment and monitor your recovery until you have reached maximum medical improvement.
After the exam, contact your insurer to ask for a copy of the IME report. Most IME doctors have a copy of their report to the disability insurer within two weeks. Your insurer may send a copy of the IME report to your own treating physician and ask for his or her comments on the exam.
An inaccurate or misleading IME report can be dangerous to your claim for disability benefits, so it’s important to address any inconsistencies as best you can. For more information on dealing with an IME, see our prior posts: Protecting Yourself in the IME Process. Reviewing the Policy. Completing Intake Forms in Advance.
When is an IME Requested? 1 If an employer or insurance company disagrees with a decision by your treating doctor about your course of treatment 2 If there’s a dispute about the cause or extent of your injuries in a personal injury case 3 If there’s a dispute about the extent of a permanent injury-related disability 4 If the hearing officer who’s assigned to your case or judge orders an IME to help resolve any disputed issues related to your case 5 In some states, you have the right to request an IME examination in case you disagree with the opinion about your medical condition or permanent disability by your treating doctor
The IME physician typically conducts a patient interview to learn more about their medical history and as well as their accident or medical condition, and then does a thorough medical examination to come up with the right answers to the liability issues in your case.
As an examinee, you should ask to review any IME letter that’s sent to the IME physician by your employer or insurance company. That way, you can verify if the questions asked are relevant to your case. The most important thing in IME examinations is to be honest, helpful and polite.
An objective, independent medical evaluation report is provided after the examination is done to confirm or deny any benefits or settlements to the claimant. To understand what is an independent medical examination and IME report, we’re going to discuss a few things that you should know.
Also referred to as an independent medical examination, an independent medical evaluation is conducted when an injured party requires third-party opinion and documentation, to determine the cause, extent and medical treatment of a work-related or other type of injury where liability is an issue. An IME can be requested by different parties, ...
An IME company will often handle the independent medical evaluation process from start to finish. They are also responsible for finding highly-qualified, objective physicians who can conduct the examinations, and located within the examinee’s geographical location.
An IME is supposed to be an impartial assessment of your current medical condition, including what type of treatment you need, whether you have a permanent impairment and to what extent, and your ability to work in the future. The rules about who chooses the physician to conduct an IME are complex and vary from state to state.