The IME (Independent Medical Evaluation) is a type of independent medical evaluation in which the focus of the evaluation is on the psychological functionality of the individual being assessed. The IME helps to:
- Identify the injuries suffered by the worker in the work-related accident
- Understand the severity of the injuries
- Identify the medical treatment needed
- Provide the Worker’s Comp Board (or jury) with a second opinion about the above
Insurance companies and employers request certain individuals to get a Independent Medical Evaluation for various reasons. Insurance companies sometimes need an individual to have a psychological evaluation to evaluate the status of the individual’s disability. Employers will request that an employee have a psychological evaluation to determine the workers’ compensation benefits the employee is entitled to after a work-related incident occurs.
Included in the independent medical evaluation (IME) is an analysis of the individual’s medical records, a medical interview, a behavioral observation of the individual, and any psychological tests that the psychologists may order. Once the evaluation is complete, the psychologist writes a final report that includes findings and recommendations for treatments, if any. The final report also addresses any concerns initially expressed by the referral source. The psychologist’s role is only to assess the individual, provide an unbiased opinion of their psychological state, and to make any treatment recommendations necessary; the psychologist does not provide the actual treatment of the individual’s condition.