If you have developed a medical condition or suffered an injury due to another person’s actions, you may be legally eligible for financial compensation. As part of filing your claim, you may require to obtain a second opinion or independent medical evaluation to provide a professional and unbiased report of your health to be considered as evidence. Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, under the leadership of board-certified orthopedic and spine surgeon Jocelyn Idema, offers exceptional independent medical evaluation in Pittsburgh, PA. To find out more about their services, call or book an appointment online. 

What Is Independent Medical Evaluation?

Also referred to as an independent medical examination, an independent medical evaluation (IME) refers to a second opinion from a medical doctor concerning your health. An independent medical examiner assesses the severity of your injuries and recommends the ideal treatment that you require. Some of the people and organizations that may need you to get an independent medical evaluation include your legal representatives, your employer, and insurance providers. You might also need to go through the examination to check whether you qualify for disability benefits or workers’ comp following an illness or injury. Dr. Idema has extensive knowledge in medicine and surgery required to provide an impartial report about your condition. 

Can Any Physician Perform Your Independent Medical Evaluation?

Only certified doctors who can assess your health comprehensively can act as an independent medical examiner. These are physicians like Dr. Idema at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, who have gone through specialized training in patients’ evaluation. She is highly qualified with the needed medical knowledge to produce an impartial independent medical report. Dr. Idema can help resolve disputes between you and other parties involved or get to the truth of any claims. She can also advise you on how long it is likely to take you to recover, and what permanent disabilities you might have.

What Should You Expect During Your Independent Medical Evaluation?

At your IME, the physician begins by reviewing your medical history, followed by a physical examination. The physician then assesses your physical and mental abilities when doing different tasks. You might be required to offer urine and blood samples for laboratory testing and undergo diagnostic procedures such as MRI, CT, and X-rays scans. At Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, Dr. Idema carefully assesses your symptoms. The data is gathered and the doctor will then advise you on the activities you should or should not engage in based on your examination.

What Happens After Your Independent Medical Evaluation?

After the IME process is complete, the doctor uses the report findings to prepare a professional medical report containing information about your current health, cause of injury or illness, and the best treatment recommendations. The report also contains any other factor that may positively affect the consideration, such as the possibility of your lifestyle being influenced by the injury. Dr. Idema accurately answers any question concerning your health that your attorney, insurance providers, or employer might ask about your current condition. 

To sum up, the Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center offers clinical integrity, convenience, and high quality independent medical evaluation services. Dr. Idema is experienced in thorough, unbiased, and detail-oriented evaluations and treats the examinees with utmost courtesy and respect. If you are in or around Pittsburgh, PA, and you think you might need an independent medical evaluation, call or book an appointment online with Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center.