When you’re injured on the job, you end up on a rollercoaster that takes off from the station right away and doesn’t slow down for a while. There’s a need to document evidence, inform your employer, file paperwork, get medical care, meet deadlines, and face the task of actually getting better. It’s a complicated process that can easily become overwhelming, especially because you’re dealing with this at a time that you really have neither the energy nor the time to tackle a big challenge. That’s where we can help — we’ve got experience dealing with the challenges of workplace injury claims, and we have the answers to your questions. As part of the process of having your workers’ compensation claim accepted here in Ohio, you will be obligated to have one (or more) independent medical exams (IME).
What is an IME?
An independent medical exam is an opportunity to have an injured worker checked by an objective, neutral medical practitioner to assess their injury and prognosis for recovery. These are typically carried out for injured workers who have extended absences from work (90 days or more) or temporary or permanent disability to validate their claims and independently assess their condition. They are intended to assess the severity of injury, the validity of the claim, and the likelihood of you returning to work.
Who Chooses the Doctor?
When it comes to seeking immediate emergency treatment after your initial injury, you can choose any doctor you want. After that initial visit, you have to make sure that the doctor you see for the treatment of your workplace injury is approved by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). For the IME, though, the insurance company or your employer will be in charge of choosing the doctor who will complete the IME.
What to Expect During the Exam
During your IME, the doctor will review your medical records and ask you questions about the injury and your symptoms. They will then conduct an exam and perform tests to evaluate the extent of your injury and the progress of healing.
How Insurers Use IMEs to Challenge Claims
Given that the doctor who performs your IME was hired by your employer or their insurance company, it can feel really invasive and unpleasant to sit down to talk with them, especially if you feel like they don’t believe you or are trying to minimize your experience. Though it’s a tough process, it is something you have to endure in order to continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits. It is true, though, that the doctor may be looking for a way to limit or prevent any further payment of benefits on the part of your employer or their insurance company. Make sure you’re prepared for your IME so you can help make sure things go your way.
- File your paperwork on time
Whether this means reporting the injury to your employer or filing your paperwork with the BWC, your claim will be seen as more legitimate if you are minding the deadlines and taking your own care seriously. Waiting to report an injury or not documenting the circumstances can also make your claim seem less valid or believable.
- Keep the details organized
The clearer you are about the story of what happened to you, the better. If you have witnesses or evidence to back up your version of events, even better.
- Follow medical advice
If you fail to follow the advice of your doctor, the insurance company can claim that it’s your own fault that you didn’t get better. Follow the doctors’ advice to a “T” to help protect your rights.
Tips for Preparing for Your IME
It’s normal to feel stressed or nervous before your IME — there’s a lot riding on the conclusions the doctor comes to, so you may be concerned about how to help the doctor reach the “right” conclusion. But you don’t need to stress too much. The most important thing to remember is to tell the truth. Be honest about your symptoms and the experience of your injury. You have far more to lose by exaggerating or saying what you think they “want” to hear than by telling the truth about your condition. Explain your symptoms and your experience in as much detail as possible, and be sure to be thorough and complete in your explanations. Don’t take your pain medications before your exam — you want to make sure that the doctor gets to examine the full extent of your injuries without medication, not the minimized effects after the pain has been dulled by medicine.
When to Have a Lawyer Involved
You can also request an IME if you feel that your claim was incorrectly rejected or that you are not being compensated fairly for your injury. In this case, it’s a good idea to hire an on the job injury lawyer to advocate for you through the IME process. You want to make sure that any incorrect or unfair conclusions are questioned and challenged to help you make the strongest possible case.
It’s easy for workers injured on the job to make mistakes during the workers’ compensation process, which is why it’s important to get a lawyer working on your side as soon as you can. A lawyer with extensive experience in workplace injury claims can streamline the process and take away a lot of your stress.