Independent Medical Examinations

Overview

An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is an in-person clinical evaluation of a claimant conducted by a physician who is not involved in the claimant’s ongoing care. CMRS provides a nationwide IME service – specialty-matched physicians, comprehensive scheduling coordination, and detailed written reports that answer your specific referral questions with the clinical clarity your claims team needs.

An IME is appropriate when a claim requires an objective, documented medical opinion that carries the weight of an in-person examination – beyond what is possible from a records review alone.

Who It’s For

• Workers’ Compensation carriers and TPAs
• Auto carriers (PIP, BI, UM/UIM)
• Short-term and Long-term Disability carriers
• Self-insured employers
• Attorneys and litigation-support teams
• Managed Care Organizations

When to Order an IME

• Diagnosis is unclear or contradictory across providers
• Causation is disputed (work-related vs. pre-existing)
• Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) determination is needed
• Permanent impairment rating required (pairs with our IRR service)
• Return-to-work capacity or restrictions need clarification
• Appropriateness of continued treatment is in question
• Apportionment between current and prior conditions
• Pre-litigation or active-litigation opinion required
• Second opinion on complex diagnoses

Our IME Process

1. Intake & Case Review

Your referral questions, medical records, and jurisdictional requirements are reviewed. Our IME coordinator confirms scope, specialty match, and any jurisdiction-specific IME protocols before the claim is assigned.

2. Physician Selection

We match your claim to a board-certified, actively practicing physician in the appropriate specialty from our nationwide network. Every IME physician is credentialed to our rigorous standards: NPDB-verified, U.S.-licensed, a minimum of five years of active clinical experience, and trained in independent evaluation protocols.

3. Scheduling & Coordination

CMRS handles all scheduling logistics – claimant notification, location selection within reasonable geographic limits, interpreter services where needed, and accommodations for special requests. We track completion rates, reschedules, and no-shows so you have visibility into the pipeline.

4. In-Person Examination

The independent physician conducts a thorough in-person clinical evaluation – including history, physical examination, and review of the available medical records.

5. Report Preparation

A detailed written report is prepared addressing each referral question directly. Reports cover diagnosis, causation analysis, treatment opinions, work capacity, and any additional opinions you’ve requested – formatted to the report template you prefer.

6. Quality Assurance

Every IME report is reviewed by our QA team before delivery – checking for completeness, internal consistency, and that every referral question has been clearly addressed.

Specialty Coverage

Our IME network includes specialists across orthopedic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, physical medicine & rehabilitation, occupational medicine, psychiatry, neuropsychology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and more – see our full specialty list.

Why Choose CMRS for IMEs

• 100% U.S.-based – every physician, every coordinator, every piece of data
• Specialty matching across the full national network
• Accountable scheduling – completion rates, reschedules, and no-shows are tracked
• Customized reports – format tailored to each client’s preferences
• Rigorous QA – every report reviewed before delivery
• Litigation-ready – reports written to hold up in negotiations, depositions, and trial
• Rush capability – expedited scheduling and report turnaround when urgency demands it
• HIPAA-compliant · URAC accredited · Virtru-encrypted · SOC 2 audited platform — PHI stays secure end-to-end