2007 IME Best Practices: Achieving Excellence & Success
2007 IME Best Practices
August 18-19, 2007 Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort |
Executive Summary
This is the finest continuing education available on the topic of independent medical evaluations. Past SEAK IME
attendees have substantially increased the success of their IME practices, have been able to raise their fees and have vastly improved their IME practices. The faculty have over 40 years of IME experience, and are dynamic presenters. The learning methodology will utilize the latest research obtained specifically for this course to identify and solve the most pressing problems facing the seminar participants. Participants will be involved in a series of unique interactive learning experiences including mock direct and cross-examinations and demonstrations.What You Will Accomplish By Attending:
• Understand specifically what providers are looking
for from IME physicians
• Improve the opportunities for expanding your IME practice
• Understand the IME selection process
• Avoid the biggest mistakes IME physicians make
• Write higher quality and more valuable IME reports
• Write more persuasive, defensible IME reports
• Reduce your legal risks
• Improve the efficiency and profitability of your IME practice
• Obtain additional high-quality clients with repeatable business
• Effectively deal with the most difficult ethical problems
associated with IMEs
• Solve most or all of your IME problems
• Build a premier IME practice with built-insustainability
Comments from Past IME Attendees:
“excellent ~ one of the best I have been to in 20
years”
“absolutely superb”
“extremely well run, informative, and entertaining”
“faculty very competent and good teachers”
“more than excellent ~ profitable”
“excellent preparation and presentation”
“very practical”
“excellent way of learning in shortest period of time”
“full of usable information”
“outstanding seminar with multiple practical tips”
“I look forward to next year’s conference”
Distinguished Faculty
Steven Babitsky, Esq.,
is the President of SEAK, Inc. He was a workers’ compensation trial attorney for twentyyears and is the former managing partner of the firm Kistin, Babitsky, Latimer & Beitman. He is the founder
of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, the co-founder of the American
Board of Independent Medical Examiners, and the creator of the AMA Guides Newsletter. Mr. Babitsky is
the co-author of the texts Writing and Defending Your IME Report: The Comprehensive Guide, Understanding the
AMA Guides in Workers’ Compensation, Litigating Stress Cases in Workers’ Compensation, Cross-Examination: Th
Comprehensive Guide for Experts, Writing and Defending Your Expert Report: The Step-by-Step Guide with Models,
How to Excel During Cross-Examination: Techniques for Experts That Work, The A-Z Guide to Expert Witnessing,
and How to Excel During Depositions: Techniques for Experts That Work. Attorney Babitsky is the co-developer of
the “How to Be an Effective Medical Witness” seminar, the seminar leader for the National Expert Witness and
Litigation Seminar and the annual IME Summit, and the scriptwriter for the videos “How to Be an Effective
Medical Witness” and “Th e Expert Medical Deposition: How to Be an Effective and Ethical Witness.” Mr.
Babitsky is the co-producer of the videotapes “How to Use the AMA Guides, Fourth Edition.” He trains hundreds of physicians every year.
Anthony J. Dorto, MD, FAADEP
is the Medical Director of the Disability Assessment Center in Miami, Florida, which performs Independent Medical Evaluations, second opinions, functional capacity, and earning capacity assessments. Dr. Dorto is certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Disability Evaluation Physicians, and is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Dorto has lectured and written extensively on IMEs, symptom magnification and malingering, disability evaluation, and impairment rating. Dr. Dorto is an experienced trainer and has been on the SEAK IME faculty for the past 4 years.Tuition
Tuition is
$1,195. Tuition includes continental breakfast, lunch with faculty
each day and a detailed conference manual.
Click here for registration information.
Continuing Education Information
Click here for Continuing Education Information.
Schedule
Saturday, August 18, 2007
7:30-8:00Continental Breakfast
8:00-8:15Introduction
The faculty introduces themselves, explains the goals for the course
and the interactive teaching methodology that will be utilized.
8:15-9:00The Biggest
Mistakes IME Physicians Make and How to Avoid Them
In this segment the faculty will utilize their 40 years plus of
experience to identify and discuss the most common and significant
IME mistakes physicians make: administratively, gathering and
reviewing the medical records, conducting the examination,
interacting with the examinee, report writing, testifying at
deposition and hearing, billing, collection and marketing.
Questions and Answers
9:00-9:30Pleasing the
Clients: The Latest Research on What Clients Really Want and
can you Deliver It
Faculty will review with attendees the results of their research
into what IME clients are looking for from IME physicians and how
these influence their selection process. Included in the discussion
will be: credentials, specialization, cooperativeness, report
writing ability, and ability and willingness to testify at
deposition or hearing. Questions and Answers
9:30-10:30Advanced
Physical Examination Techniques
and the Quality IME Demonstrated
In this segment the faculty will discuss and demonstrate an
exceptional IME exam. Discussion and demonstration will include:
interview and history, questionnaires, review of records, diagnostic
studies, physical orthopedic/neurological evaluation, testing in
numerous examination positions, tools of the trade, report writing
and comment sections of the report. Questions and Answers
10:30-10:45BREAK AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:45-12:00Identifying
Symptom Magnification, Fraud and Malingering: Advanced Techniques
Faculty will discuss and demonstrate with the use of videos, the
proper symptom magnification definitions, injury red flags,
nonorganic signs and their meanings, how to identify and demonstrate
any inconsistencies, specific tests for symptom magnification, the
proper use of functional capacity evaluation, and the role of
surveillance. Questions and Answers
12:00-12:45LUNCH PROVIDED WITH FACULTY
12:45-1:45Writing the
Bulletproof IME Report: Exceeding Expectations
In this segment the
faculty will discuss and demonstrate how to draft an IME report that
will stand up under scrutiny and cross-examination. Attendees will
be called upon to defend their pre-submitted IME reports.
Questions and Answers
1:45-2:30Efficiently and
Effectively Dealing with Medical and Other Records and Materials
Provided: Solving the Most Common Problems
The
faculty will explain the most efficient techniques for obtaining,
organizing, and reviewing the medical and other records provided.
Emphasis will be placed on missing and disorganized records.
Questions and Answers
2:30-2:45BREAK AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
2:45-3:30IME Ethical
Dilemmas: Avoiding Pitfalls and Minefields
In this segment the faculty will identify the most common and
difficult IME dilemmas faced by IME physicians and will offer
practical suggestions for resolving them. Questions and Answers
3:30-4:30Innovative
Premium Fee Setting, and Billing Techniques
Faculty will present cost-effective efficient protocols for premium
fee setting and billing. Emphasis will be placed on being paid for
the time spent, expertise and quality of the work product.
Questions and Answers
4:30-5:00Working with
Defense Attorneys: What They are Really Looking For
The attendees will be provided insight into what defense attorneys
are really looking for from IME physicians. Videos of defense
attorneys explaining their needs and issues will be presented.
Questions and Answers
Sunday, August 19, 2007
6:30-7:00Continental Breakfast
7:00-8:00Advanced
Practice Management: Maximizing the Efficiency of Your IME Practice
The faculty explains how to make your IME
practice more efficient and profitable.
8:00-9:00Innovative,
Professional, and Cost Effective IME Marketing Methods That Work:
Selection and Engagement
Attendees will be presented with simple, cost-effective strategies
to market and expand an IME practice. Emphasis will be placed on
what the physician and staff can do to build a premium practice.
Questions and Answers
9:00-9:15BREAK & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
9:15-9:30IME Brokers and
Scheduling Companies
The faculty will discuss and explain how to identify the companies
physicians may want to work with, how to develop good working
relationships and what should be avoided in considering working with
these companies. Questions and Answers
9:30-10:00Causal
Relationship and the IME Physician: What You Need to Know
Attendees will be presented with a detailed review of the numerous
causal relationship issues they face and will be provided techniques
and explanations for dealing with them. Demonstrations with
attendees will be conducted to illustrate key points of contention.
Questions and Answers
10:00-10:15BREAK AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:15-11:00The IME
Physician Deposition: How to Excel
The faculty will provide a detailed checklist containing many of the
issues physicians will face at deposition. Special emphasis will be
placed on particular IME issues and questions. Demonstrations based
on pre-submitted reports will highlight key points.
Demonstration.
11:00-11:30How to Deal
With Requests for "Modifications, " "Alterations," or "Corrections:
to Your Report
Attendees will express the most troubling issues they face in the
cat and mouse requests of attorney and clients for modifications,
alterations and corrections of their reports. The faculty will offer
practical, ethical, and time tested solutions to these vexing
issues. Questions and Answers
11:30-12:00Independent
Medical Examination Risk Management: What Can Go Wrong and How
to Avoid It
The
faculty will identify the most potentially troubling and dangerous
risk management issues for IME physicians and offer safe protocols
for dealing with these issues. Particular emphasis will be placed on
avoiding unnecessary risk. Questions and Answers
12:00-12:45LUNCH PROVIDED WITH FACULTY
12:45-1:30Disability, Impairment and Ability to WorkIn this segment the faculty will review with the attendees what their role should be in evaluating and defining the disability, impairment and ability to work of examinees. Particular emphasis will be placed on the precise wording of opinions and reports. Questions and Answers
1:30-2:15Trick and
Difficult Questions for the IME Physician
The faculty will demonstrate in an interactive demonstration the
most difficult questions IME physicians face and how to answer them
truthfully and artfully. Insight will be provided into the
significance of the questions and the replies. Questions and
Answers
2:15-2:30Takeaways,
Conclusion and Evaluation
The
faculty will review key points and open the floor for a free-flowing
discussion of the issues covered in the entire two day conference.