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Independent medical examiners (IME) are registered medical practitioners who provide impartial medical assessments of an injured worker to assist decisions about: - accepting a claim
- ongoing liability
- the worker’s level of fitness for work.
The worker, worker’s solicitor, or the employer’s workers compensation insurance company can request an independent medical examination. Injured workers may be referred for an independent medical examination when information from the treating practitioners is: - inadequate
- unavailable
- inconsistent
- where the referrer has been unable to resolve the issues related to the problem directly with the parties involved.
Independent medical examiners do not provide advice to injured workers about their condition, treatment or workers compensation claim. However, if they consider that some other type of treatment might assist the worker, they will mention it in their report and may contact the worker’s treating doctor to discuss treatment options. The report is forwarded to the person who requested it. Resources The NSW Medical Board provides guidelines on how independent medical examinations should be conducted. The Guidelines for medico-legal consultations and examinations is available from their website, below. The AMA and Law Society of NSW have published a brochure on medico-legal examinations. The brochure, Understanding Medico-Legal Examinations, is available from the AMA or Law Society. Contact details Provider Services Group Hotline: 1800 661 111
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