Independent Injury Assessments
Independent injury assessments
may be carried out by an employer or an insurance company in situations where
an injured employee is unable to do his or her job, and liability is involved.
These assessments, also known as
IMEs (for "Independent Medical Evaluations” or "Independent Medical
Examinations”) should be conducted by a company specializing in this area,
since the reports required need to meet exacting standards. Not only must the
language be precise, practical, and medically correct, but the document must be
legally defensible. Since legal requirements vary from province to province,
it's best to find a company that operates on a national basis. The medical
assessment company you choose must also hire licensed professionals, and should
offer assessments in a wide variety of areas.
How It Works
The best medical assessment
companies work to get your employees back to work in a timely and safe fashion.
This may mean identifying underlying issues that need to be addressed, suggesting
alternate therapies, assessing workplace hazards and making changes, or
recommending alternate duties. Better companies work quickly and objectively,
respecting all parties and trying to find solutions that work for employees and
their managers.
The types of assessment performed
may include:
- Independent psychology
examinations
- Independent neuro-psychology
examinations
- Independent psycho-vocational
evaluations
- Independent neuro-psycho
vocational evaluations
- Independent vocation
evaluations
- Independent physiotherapy
evaluations
- Independent rheumatology
examinations
- Independent oral and
maxillofacial examinations
- Independent social work
evaluations
- Independent in-home evaluations
- Independent job site analysis
or physical demands analysis
- Independent functional
abilities evaluations
- Transferable skills analyses
Any evaluations and the
resulting reports must be based on statutes and regulations and conform to
established standards and procedures. Be sure to partner with a medical
assessment company that promises services that are high in quality, cost
effective, and time-targeted.
If your firm is located outside
of a major urban centre, you may be worried that these services are not
available to you. However, there are a few nationally-known medical assessment
companies that provide services throughout Canada, including isolated
locations.
Prevention, Education, and Other Services
Some medical assessment
organizations offer other services to employers and their workers that can help
improve workplace morale and conditions. These can include:
- Employee
Assistance Plans. EAPs, as they are
known, provide immediate access to counselors for employees that may be
struggling with issues such as marital discord, drug and alcohol dependence,
gambling problems, or grief. All counseling is confidential.
- Surveys. Surveys can be a useful
tool to find out more about why you are experiencing absenteeism, or to measure
employee satisfaction. The information gathered can help you create a healthier
workplace.
- Education Programs. Custom
education programs for your employees help to prevent accidents, and programs
such as flu clinics have been shown to reduce flu-related absenteeism.
- Screening. Screening employees for
conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can prevent
them from suffering from debilitating heart attacks or strokes. Screening for
drug and alcohol dependency can help identify workers who may require counseling.
Contact a medical assessment
company today, and find out how a partnership can improve the health of your
workplace!