This is the most advanced training available on Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs). Attendees will learn how to distinguish themselves as independent medical evaluators. Physicians completing these intensive two days of training will raise the level of their IME work product, produce more valuable and defensible reports, and become “go-to” evaluators sought after by insurers, attorneys, brokers, and other clients. Physicians who are serious about improving their IME skills are encouraged to attend and participate in this advanced training.
Includes:
-Over 12 Hours of on-demand streaming instruction (1 year license);
-457 page written manual (including free bound copy mailed to learners in USA);
-Written review and critique of your CV ;
-Written review and critique of your IME Report;
-Up to 12.25 CME Credits;
-50% discount on one new or renewal listing in SEAK's IME Directory (this offer expires 30 days after registering for the course); and
-30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Course Contents:
Advanced History Taking
Interviewing and history taking techniques in complex cases including those with multiple injuries and/or illnesses, as well as multiple dates of injury.
IME Causation In-Depth
Causation analysis for both occupational and non-occupational injuries and illnesses. You will learn the meaning of cause and effect, apportionment, and recurrence. You will also learn the differences between proximate, precipitating, and predisposing causes; as well as worsening, exacerbation, and aggravation. You will be presented with vexing causation issues including symptoms vs. disease, arthritic changes and hip/knee replacements, and mechanisms of injury.
Effective Use of Objective Medical Evidence & Diagnostic Test Results
When and how to most effectively use objective medical evidence, results of diagnostic testing, medical literature, and disability guidelines. The most effective and persuasive techniques for explaining and presenting the medical significance of objective medical evidence and diagnostic test results to a judge, fact finder, or jury. Use of normative values and medical literature will be demonstrated with case studies.
Forming Defensible Opinions
How to form opinions that are medically and legally supportable, defensible, and thereby credible.
Ability to Work
What physicians should and should not say about ability to return to work, work capacity, disability, impairment, and restrictions.
Mechanism of Injury
The mechanism of injury for the injuries that evaluators are most commonly faced with. You will be provided with tools, techniques, and literature to support a robust analysis of the mechanism of injury.
Fitness for Duty Exams
What IME physicians need to know about the legal and medical aspects of fitness for duty examinations, reports, and testimony.
Writing Your IME Report
Best practices for IME report writing including formatting, documentation of records reviewed, qualifications of the examiner, history, physical examination, expressing defensible opinions, and avoiding mistakes.
Dealing Effectively with the Attacks of Counsel
Attacks that IME physicians can expect to face including those on your impartiality, bias, finances, credibility, credentials, and medical opinions. Techniques for successfully dealing with these attempts to destroy you will be explained and demonstrated.
Building Your IME Brand and Becoming a “Go-To” IME Physician
How you can build your brand, image, credibility, and reputation. You will be presented with ten techniques for becoming a sought after “go-to” IME physician who works on complex, interesting, and lucrative IMEs.
Defending Return to Work Decisions
How to defend physical capacity and activity decisions under rigorous cross-examination. Faculty also discuss questions about liability of physicians for workers who get re-injured when returned to work.
FACULTY:
Steven Babitsky, Esq., is the President of SEAK, Inc. He was a workers’ compensation trial attorney for twenty years and is the former managing partner of the firm Kistin, Babitsky, Latimer & Beitman. He is the founder of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, the cofounder of the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners, and the creator of the AMA Guides Newsletter. Mr. Babitsky is the co-author of the texts Writing and Defending Your IME Report: The Comprehensive Guide, Understanding the AMA Guides in Workers’ Compensation, Litigating Stress Cases in Workers’ Compensation, How to Be a Successful Expert Witness: SEAK’s A–Z Guide to Expert Witnessing, How to Be an Effective Expert Witness at Deposition and Trial: The SEAK Guide to Testifying as an Expert Witness, and How to Write An Expert Witness Report. Attorney Babitsky created the course How to Start, Run, and Build a Successful IME Practice as well as the IME Skills For Physicians: The Master’s Program. He consults with physician groups to help improve their IME practices.
James B. (Jim) Talmage, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon by training. He is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and in Emergency Medicine. He serves as Assistant Medical Director for the State of Tennessee Division of Workers’ Compensation. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Occupational Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. He is a Past President of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (AADEP). Since 1992 he has lectured over 700 times to physician audiences in courses sponsored by AADEP, AAOS, ACOEM, SEAK, and multiple other organizations. He does unpaid peer review of articles submitted to two medical journals. He is a Co-Editor of the textbook published by the American Medical Association on Causation and the textbook on Work Ability. He has helped author many AMA products on impairment rating. He is a paid consultant to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Continuing Medical Education Information:
SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 13.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This enduring material activity was originally released on July 28, 2020. This enduring material activity was reviewed on July 7, 2023 and terminates on July 7, 2026.
Course Curriculum
- Advanced History Taking (91:22)
- IME Causation in Depth: Causation (130:59)
- Effective Use of Objective Medical Evidence and Diagnostic Test Results (101:44)
- Forming Defensible Opinions (57:56)
- Ability to Return to Work: Biggest Mistakes IME Physicians Make (123:46)
- Fitness for Duty Exams (43:46)
- Writing Your IME Report (58:33)
- Dealing Effectively with the Attacks of Counsel (44:41)
- Building Your IME Brand and Becoming a "Go-To" IME Physician (85:33)
WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY
“Great course! Insightful.”
“Scholarly and practical at the same time.”
“Presenters were great, did not feel that they were rushing through!”
“Very well done.”
"Well structured and informative."
"Both Jim and Steve do an outstanding job as presenters."
“Outstanding. I have been doing IMEs for 18 years and learned quite a bit of information that I will put into use immediately.
“I have taken a number of SEAK courses previously-I must say streaming on demand is great and will do it again and again.”
Thank you!”
“Very pleased with seminar, very informative.”
“Excellent, very informative, eye opening.”
“Thank you for an excellent course.”
“Excellent. The sample IME reports were outstanding. Thank you!”
“Excellent job!”
“Both excellent instructors”
“Entertaining”
“Excellent handout book”
“Goldmine of legal and medical pearls of knowledge”
“Informative, thorough, well referenced”
“New and useful info and technique”
“Outstanding”
“Well organized – a lot of work put in”
“Excellent presentations”
Sample Course Clips:
IME Report Best Practices
Causation and Benefits of Work
Waddel Signs and Malingering
Defending Your IME Opinion at Deposition
Additional Streaming Courses for Independent Medical Examiners from SEAK
Contact SEAK, Inc.: 508-457-1111 [email protected] PO Box 729 Falmouth, MA 02541 www.seak.com