What is Quality in an IME?
Remember, speed and location are the values of fast food, not medicine.
A report that is right — the first time.
A report that fully answers your questions.
A report where the rating has been thoroughly benched for accuracy.
A report that you can utilize without question; with complete confidence in the experience of the physicians And the Quality Assurance standards it passed before it came to you.
A panel provider that responds if there is a problem.
Immediately.
Competently.
Without excuses or evasion and pledges that that steps will be taken to ensure that problem never happens again.
The panel provider you choose does matter.
You want rigorous medical standards, supported by superbly trained and experienced Quality Assurance.
Never accept anything less.
Aren’t “all panels the same"?
No.
There is a huge difference between a PANEL and an “IME provider." A Panel is a unique creation of Washington Industrial Insurance, but has applications in every type of insurance system. A panel means that the physicians, as much as possible, are in the same room at the same time, hearing the same history and observing each others examinations. A panel takes the time for the physicians to confer and concur, in the same place, at the time, so that a combined opinion is the work product of the physicians, not transcription. It is a collegial and clinical approach to the practice of medicine.
Never settle for “kwalytea" assurance
Quality is expensive. It requires time, training and extensive experience before anyone can perform true ’quality assurance’ for a medical report of any kind, let alone an “IME". As large transnationals cut their QA departments and drive physicians to “perform their own QA" — you are seeing cost cutting prioritized over medicine; profit over patients and ‘big box store’ promises of convenience — right along with ‘big box store’ quality and customer service.
Can we promise we will never make a mistake?
No. (But we’re working on it!)
Can we promise that we continually train staff and physicians to reach ever higher standards for medicine and research?
Absolutely.
Can we promise that if you have questions of any kind, or need an explanation of anything we have done, we will be happy to talk with you directly, or arrange for our physicians to do so?
We Promise.
Can we promise that, no error, however trivial, is ever acceptable?
Yes.
Can we promise to acknowledge our errors and never to blame our physicians, or you, for them?
Definitely.