IME Advice

[gvel]

What is the name of your state? MI

I was injured on the job almost 1 yr. ago. Based on an MRI after my surgery, my Dr. feels I need surgery again. My WC carrier will not authorize this until I have an IME. As much as I hate to say this, I don't blame them!

An IME has been set up, but here is the kicker! They are asking the IME Dr. to "comment with regards to claimant's disability being work related." How could the same injury not be work related? Furthermore, the letter says nothing about whether or not I need additional surgery! Perhaps, I will be questioned on recent activities etc.? Anyway, does anyone have any comments or suggestions for my IME visit? Should I bring anything with me?(medical records etc)

I am an honest person, and I do not have anything to hide! I just hope the IME Dr. is the same!

Thanks for your replies!

 

[driftbuster]

first of all bring copies of the last IME and or origional reports. some of the IME's i went to were down right idiots. don't take your meds before, hate to say it but let them see you when you are not your best. see if you can bring someone in to help with questions (sometimes they will and it makes a good witness). they might think you reinjured it or it might be a different injury all together. you didn't say if it was a shoulder or back but he will ask you what you have been doing or they comp might have pictures to show you. I hope that if you are out of work you have been behaving yourself, dont even let anyone see you doing anything remotely out of your restrictions. I spent 2 years playing the game before i settled (I got a whopping, not evey 3 times my wages, thats all 22 years was worth). If you have a good day don't let them know it. the IME is not your friend. I had one who wanted me to answer yes or no to his questions (he had a tape recorder going). that was it, he had no time for my explainations and spent 3 to five minutes in a interview before that. another one who said after a quick 10 min exam that there was nothing wrong with me and released me to go back at 100%. if the first IME gave you a fair report of your injury they will not send you to the same one. good luck
no if this is what you are thinking..... I am not bitter anymore, i am i retirement disability and have gone on with my life. this is just my view on the system in michigan

 

[gvel]

Thanks Driftbuster

Hi Driftbuster,

Thanks for your reply. I had my IME Monday. This is the 2nd one I had with the same Doctor. I guess I'm lucky - he is not a "witch Dr."! As a matter of fact, he's even a professor of Orthopedic Surgury at a well known medical school in Detroit.

His exam was very similar to the first one. He asked questions and listened! It appeared clear to him that I am still having problems. He did not ask one question about recent activities either. Even if he did, I don't having anything to hide. I just hope he aggrees with my primary Dr. that I do need additional surgury! I have to get this shoulder fixed! Afterall, I haven't golfed/worked in a year!

I guess all of this depends on the WC carrier. By the looks of some of these postings, my carrier is taking care of me.

 

[driftbuster]

good luck, it does not happen that often. good ime's are hard to come by. they usually work for the insurance carrier, and of course have their interests in mind. out of 3 i had only one who was looking out for me. luckily they took his word for it and not the others!