It’s critical that IME physicians rely on objective medical evidence rather than personal opinion in reaching their conclusions in an IME report. This means they also need to stay up to date on all aspects of medical treatment, including treatment norms in the workers’ comp industry.

Emerging trends in workers’ compensation nationally, includes workers filing post-traumatic stress disorder claims from events that they experienced on the job. These events will typically be something traumatic like witnessing a violent event while on the job or the aftermath of a horrific accident – but not always (think first responders too).

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) play a pivotal role in the realm of claims processing, serving as a helpful tool for claims professionals to assess the validity and extent of an injury or illness claim. When done right, these examinations are conducted by unbiased medical professionals who provide an objective evaluation.

In workers’ compensation, injured employees have an opinion about their condition, treatment, or ability to return to work. In some cases, this opinion may not be supported by existing medical evidence. Without clear, objective medical evidence, the opinion is usually called into question.