Independent Medical Examination - Jones-Wood Psychological

Many people walking down street to get to work. (Independent medical examination)

Categories:

Independent Medical Examination (IME) for Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Claimants

An independent medical examination (IME) is an impartial, fair, and unbiased medical examination. Injured workers must undergo these types of evaluations for the purpose of their Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) claim. The BWC has different stages. With this in mind, completion of the IME may be done at any stage. This certainly addresses various referral questions. Some of the typical ones, at this time, include:

Additional Allowance

These exams address whether a new condition may be added to the existing claim or not.
Typical psychological conditions that arise from workplace injuries may undoubtedly include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress
Psychological testing is especially used in these cases to assess a wide array of psychological conditions

Permanent Partial Disability

This type of IME determines a percentage of impairment the injured worker has sustained as a result of their industrial injury
To determine the percentage of impairment, the examiner must consider the following domains and abilities:
- Activities of daily living
  - Maintain adequate personal grooming and hygiene
  - Take care of oneself
  - Travel
  - Experience restful sleep
  - Demonstrate initiative
  - Work independently without supervision
- Social function
  - Communicate effectively
  - Get along with others
  - Interact with the public
  - Respond appropriately to authority
  - Behave appropriately in the workplace
- Concentration, persistence, and pace
  - Sustain concentration for a task
  - Schedule and complete tasks
  - Complete tasks at a reasonably acceptable pace
  - Take directions
  - Make complex decisions
- Adaptation
  - Work under stress
  - Adapt to the work environment
  - Not fear the workplace environment
  - Demonstrate appropriate judgement, social maturity, etc.

Maximum Medical Improvement

This type of exam addresses whether the injured worker has reached a treatment plateau where no fundamental change can be expected, in spite of continuing medical or rehabilitative procedures or not.
- Note: An injured worker may require supportive treatment to maintain this level of function, so it does not necessarily mean that all services are terminated
It is important to realize that these IMEs rely heavily upon review of the medical records from the treating providers

rehab services for independent medical examination

In conclusion, we perform these evaluations for the BWC, Industrial Commission, injured workers, and their employers. Our mission is to perform the most objective IME by all means possible.