IME SERVICES
Virtual Assessments Keep Files Moving
In-person and virtual assessments are available upon request.
Safety Comes First
Everyone's safety is at stake. So conducting an IME virtually may be the best way to keep making progress on a claim or case. There are a few hoops to jump through, and we'll do most of the set up. Contact us if you want to set up a virtual assessment.
COVID Safety Protocols
In this unprecedented time, the safety of all clients, person served, assessors, and staff is the priority of Direct IME. With the intention of practicing good physical distancing, Direct IME is offering Virtual Assessments (VA) to deliver IMEs in the safety of your client’s own home.
VA IMEs in Three Steps
- A virtual (online) meeting between assessor and person served where the history, details of the accident, and subjective report of the injuries are recorded. Medical records are reviewed prior to the VA IME.
- A physical examination that is performed in-person once it is safe again to do so.
- A medical legal report will be finalized and sent to you after the physical examination has been completed.
Timeline
- A virtual consult will be scheduled for about 1.5 hours to collect the person served’s history, account of the accident, and subjective reporting of the injuries.
- If requested, a telephone conference will be scheduled with the assessor to discuss initial findings. This will allow the person served to initiate treatment recommendations prior to the physical examination.
- An in-person physical examination (about 30 minutes) will be scheduled once it is safe again to do so.
- A final written report may be requested after the physical exam.
Video Conferencing Platforms
Both Doxy and Zoom can be used from your Internet browser and includes chat, password protection, no file storage, and the ability to disable the recording. Two other paid platforms Medeo and Virtual Care offer the same features and functionalities. Let us know your platform of choice when booking a virtual IME.
FAQs for Virtual Assessment Participants
Q: I don’t have a printer. How will I fill out the consent or intake forms?
A: We have created consent and intake forms that can be filled out electronically. Printing and scanning are not required.
Q: All of our medical records are in hard copies and there is no one available to scan them. How will I get you the records?
A: We have limited office hours, but are still receiving deliveries. Please contact us to arrange a delivery.
Q: Can the online meeting be done with a cell phone or tablet? Does it matter whether I use a PC or Mac?
A: Yes! All the platforms are web-based, so as long as you can access the internet with your device, there will be no problem connecting to the video platform.
Q: What if I’m having technical difficulties and cannot connect to the platform? Will I be charged for a no-show?
A: Our staff will always be standing by to help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. If you’d like, we can perform a test run the day before to ensure you connect properly. If there is an unforeseen connection problem (e.g., internet goes down, device malfunctions) that prevents the online portion from being completed, the appointment will be rescheduled with no penalty fees.
Q: What if an interpreter is needed for the assessment?
A: Depending on which platform is used, an interpreter can either join the meeting with video or by audio only.
Q: When can the physical examination be performed?
A: We follow the direction of the Provincial Health Authority and schedule physical examinations when safe to do so.
Q: Are Virtual Assessments billed the same way as In-Person Assessments?
A: Yes and No. The fees will remain the same, but for Virtual Assessments, an initial invoice will be sent after the online meeting, with a final invoice sent after the report has been completed.
Q: Do all of Direct IME assessors perform Virtual Assessments?
A: Most but not all. The concept of a Virtual Assessment is new to some assessors, but more and more assessors are agreeing to them.
Still have a question?