When an employee files a workers’ compensation claim, their treating physician plays a central role in documenting the injury and recommending treatment. That physician’s opinion carries significant weight throughout the process.
As an Ohio employer, however, you have options. One of the most useful tools available to you is an independent medical examination, commonly referred to as an IME. Understanding what an IME is and the general role it plays can help you make more informed decisions when navigating a workers’ compensation claim.
What is an independent medical examination?
An IME is a medical evaluation performed by a physician who is not the claimant’s treating doctor. That physician reviews the available medical records and conducts a physical examination of the claimant. Afterward, they provide a written opinion on matters related to the claim.
Because this physician has no prior relationship with the claimant, their findings offer an alternative, outside perspective on the injury, one that you would not otherwise have access to through the claimant’s own medical team.
What kinds of questions can an IME help address?
An IME can provide clarity on medical questions that are in dispute, which often include:
- Whether the injury is connected to a workplace incident
- How significant the condition actually is
- If the claimant has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
MMI refers to a treatment plateau where fundamental functional change is no longer expected.
As an employer, you are not in a position to evaluate these questions on your own. An IME provides medical evidence from a qualified professional to help the Ohio Industrial Commission or Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation decide these issues.
When might requesting an IME make sense?
An IME may be worth considering when a claim involves an injury that seems inconsistent with the reported incident, when a claimant’s recovery appears prolonged without clear medical explanation or when the treating physician’s recommendations do not align with what you are observing about the claimant’s condition.
These situations are not uncommon in workers’ compensation claims. Having an independent medical opinion on record can give you a clearer picture of where a claim stands. If you have questions about how an IME fits into your overall workers’ compensation defense strategy, speaking with legal counsel familiar with Ohio law is a good place to start.