Don't Send Them Alone: Why Your Client Needs An Escort For Their IME
If your client needs to go in for an independent medical evaluation, now's the time to arrange for an escort. Your client has the right to legal representation during the independent medical evaluation. If your client wants to go on their own, you need to explain the benefits of having a trained exam escort with them. Not sure how to explain the importance in layman's terms? Read the list provided below. Here are three things your client needs to know about their IME escort.
Document Client Behavior
When your client goes in for their appointment, the evaluator will assess everything. This includes your client's appearance and the way your client behaves. If your client goes to the appointment on their own, the notes might not be as accurate as they should be. For instance, the evaluator might document that your client was combative.
Or, they could say that your client arrived late for the evaluation. That's where an escort comes into the picture. When you send a trained exam escort with your client, they can document behavior. This information can get used to dispute disparaging comments about your client.
Document Appointment Time
If your client has an appointment for an independent medical evaluation, you need to document the appointment time. That's the time the evaluator spends with your client. It's not uncommon for independent medical evaluators to cut the assessment short. This is especially true when the insurance company orders the evaluation.
To get a thorough assessment, the evaluator should spend more than a few minutes with your client. An exam escort can ensure that your client gets the allotted time. Or, they can document the actual time the evaluator spent with your client.
Document Information Accuracy
If your client is scheduled for an IME, don't send them on their own. Instead, arrange for them to have a trained exam escort. The medical evaluator will make recommendations based on their evaluation. If they give information that's not accurate, your client might not get the benefits they're entitled to. But it's difficult to dispute inaccuracies.
This is especially true if your client doesn't have a trained exam escort with them. That's where an exam escort becomes beneficial. The trained escort can document information that might get discussed during the evaluation. They can also document any procedures that are performed during the evaluation.
Don't take chances with your client's medical evaluation. Be sure to send an exam escort with your client.