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You will gain the skills needed to be more effective and successful as an independent medical examiner. The seminar is directed by an internationally recognized expert who is also an experienced trainer. This is a practical program which emphasizes the active participation and interaction of the attendees. You will learn how to manage challenging situations. Outstanding presentations are supported by computer-generated visuals and a comprehensive seminar reference manual. You are encouraged to bring your own reports for critique. The content of this seminar is unique. You will define specific action steps which will lead to greater success.
Learning Objectives
Following this course, the physician learner will be able to:
Be more efficient and successful in performing independent medical evaluations
Generate and collect premium fees promptly
Understand and minimize potential liability encountered in this field
Effectively deal with legal, practical, and ethical issues
Write an excellent IME report
Appreciate the needs of clients
Understand the multi-axial approach to assessing the complexities of pain
Utilize and score pain inventories
Assess symptom magnification and malingering
Utilize effective and dignified marketing approaches to increase referrals
Explain use of computer resources and internet technologies in an IME practice
Structure his or her office in a cost-effective manner
What do past attendees have to say about this program?
"This is the best I've ever been to in regards to practical application to my day-to-day office practice."
"Excellent."
"Superbly presented."
"Very well put together, terrific audio, visuals, real 'high tech.'"
"Excellent for both beginners/advanced."
Christopher R. Brigham, MD, FACOEM, FAADEP, CIME, is the founder of the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. Dr. Brigham has trained thousands of physicians on rating impairment and testifying in court and administrative proceedings. He received his MD from Washington University in St. Louis and is board certified in occupational medicine. He was featured in the programs How To Be An Effective Medical Witness, How To Perform An Excellent Independent Medical Evaluation, Achieving Success With Workers' Compensation, and Achieving Success As A Medical Witness. Dr. Brigham is the author of the Comprehensive IME System: Essential Resources for an Efficient and Successful IME Practice and is co-author of the text The Independent Medical Evaluation Report: A Step-by-Step Guide With Models. He is also the Editor of the AMA Guides Newsletter.
Registration Information: The $695 tuition includes a valuable seminar reference manual, continental breakfast and lunch each day with faculty, coffee breaks, and a dynamic learning experience.
Thursday, August 14, 2003
The role of the independent medical examination in the claims process and legal arena is reviewed. This includes a discussion of the legal, ethical, and practical day-to-day challenges faced by independent medical examiners. The seminar leader elicits and utilizes the personal experiences of the attendees in a small-group format to facilitate the discussion.
We discuss what insurers, self-insurers, employers, fact finders, and attorneys are really looking for in workers' compensation, personal injury, and disability IME reports. Clients' desires and expectations are fully explored. You will understand the relationship among serving the client, maintaining your integrity, and achieving success as an independent medical examiner.
The attributes of an excellent IME report are discussed. Attendees critique good and poor reports to develop an understanding of what needs to be included in an excellent report and how the report should be structured. Attendees have the opportunity to share and discuss their report styles.
The Excellent IME Report (continued)
Secrets to perfecting the IME process are revealed. These techniques enhance your ability to prepare a high-quality report in a minimum amount of time. You will learn how to leverage your time through the use of structured approaches and the effective use of your support staff.
You will also learn how to obtain needed information during the pre-evaluation process. The secrets revealed include the use of referral forms, obtaining needed information at the time of the referral, assuring that you have complete and organized medical records, and having the client make a commitment to pay your fee. You learn how to make use of questionnaires, worksheets, word processing templates, and support staff to facilitate preparing a quality report.
An efficient multi-axial approach to assessing the complexities of chronic pain is presented. A practical conceptual framework is provided and specific assessment techniques are demonstrated. Attendees learn how to use pain inventories, including: Pain Drawings, Pain Disability Index, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Multi-dimensional Pain Inventory, Oswestry Disability Index, CES-Depression Inventory, and others. Case examples are provided and the attendees are actively involved in the assessment process and the use of these pain inventories.
A structured approach to assessing symptom magnification and malingering is presented. This includes the use of the history and the medical records, the assessment of non-physiologic and other behavioral findings, the integration of these results with pain inventories, and the review of investigative surveillance material. Attendees learn how to develop supportable conclusions.
Reports provided by attendees are critiqued. This provides an opportunity for constructive feedback and understanding of various report styles.
Friday, August 15, 2003
You will learn how to structure your office to be efficient in performing IMEs; maximizing productivity and minimizing overhead. Attendees share their experiences, and the seminar leader will identify the techniques which have been found to be efficient and successful. Topics include staffing, examination equipment, office equipment, applying computer technology, use of secondary examination facilities, and cost-effective scheduling. You will identify specific action steps to take on return to your practice.
You will learn various cutting edge techniques to utilize technology to perform more accurate, efficient and valuable IMEs.
You will learn how to increase your IME practice through proven, cost-effective marketing approaches. Discussion includes how to expand your practice with current and new clients and how to distinguish yourself from other evaluators. Participants will share their experiences with marketing and their approaches to fees. The seminar leader will present alternative premium fee schedules. You will learn how to have your clients highly value your services and how to collect your fees promptly.
We discuss the significant legal risks that independent medical examiners run and present real-life cases. Practical, specific suggestions are provided on how to minimize these risks. This includes use of specific office policies, release forms, wording your report, and appropriate management of threatened actions. Other challenges are explored and specific recommendations on making the evaluation process a more positive experience are made.
The specific actions to be taken by the attendee to have a more effective and successful practice are shared. These include immediate, short-term, and long-term actions. Group discussion is facilitated to assure each attendee has a specific plan to implement.
Faculty reviews key points and opens the floor for a free-flowing discussion of the issues covered in this two-day seminar.
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