What To Do During An Independent Medical Examination (IME)
The following article will provide some tips regarding how to prepare for independent medical examinations (IMEs).
What is an independent medical examination (IME)?
An independent medical examination (IME) is a medical examination that is scheduled and paid for by the insurance company. The examination is performed by a physician chosen by the insurance company and is used to resolve questions about your medical condition for purposes of a workers compensation claim. As part of this examination, the physician will review your relevant medical records, examine you, and write a report with his findings. Your employer and their insurance company will rely heavily on the opinions of the independent medical examiner . If you happen to disagree with the findings in the report, you or your attorney can challenge the report.
What should I do during an IME?
During an IME, you should adhere to some of the following tips:
- Be polite. Even though the doctor is hired by the workers’ compensation insurance company, you should ensure that you are polite and respectful. Don’t assume the examiner is out to get you. Even if it appears that the physician is less than friendly, there is no need to respond with unnecessary hostility or provide the doctor with a reason to write an unfavorable report.
- Be honest. It is important to be honest about the cause and extent of your injuries. Keep in mind that the medical examiner is already familiar with the details of your claim. As such, you should ensure that you answer all questions with honesty. Furthermore, you should ensure that you are completely honest if you are asked about specific activities that you can no longer do as a result of your injury. It is important to understand that it is possible that the insurance company might have surveillance footage of your activities. As such, if you claim that since your injury, you can no longer drive, but there is footage of you driving since the injury, this will only hurt your case.
- Distinguish any prior injuries. If you’ve had a previous injury to the same body part that was injured at work, your employer and its insurance company likely will question whether your current symptoms are due to the previous injury rather than your workplace injury. Accordingly, it is important for you to specifically explain how this injury is different from any pre-existing injuries. For example, if the earlier injury healed several years ago and you haven’t experienced any pain or symptoms for some time, you should make sure to tell that to the physician. Additionally, if you are experiencing new symptoms, more pain, or additional limitations due to the current injury, make sure you describe them in detail to the physician.
Do You Have Questions About The Workers Compensation Process? Speak To A Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you have additional questions regarding the workers compensation process, Connolly Injury Law can help. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys are ready to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about filing a personal injury lawsuit.
