OrthoLegal Insights:
Commentary from our
QME Experts.

The Department of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently updated the regulations regarding their mandatory report-writing course for Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs). Effective February 26, 2024, the ...

In disputed Workers’ Compensation cases in California, a QME is asked to help settle the dispute.  The first question addressed in a report is whether ...

The California Workers’ Compensation system serves as a lifeline for employees who have sustained work-related injuries or illnesses, offering necessary financial aid and medical support. ...

In the annals of American history, few figures loom as prominently in the struggle for workers’ rights as César Chávez. Born on March 31, 1927, ...

Being a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) in California requires continuing education and requalification to remain current and proficient for medicolegal work. An active California medical ...

Most QMEs are conscientious physicians who attempt to submit thoughtful reports for cases of contested work injury.  The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) handled 107,700 ...

A QME must enter a deposition prepared to defend his or her opinions.  Verbal testimony, while inconvenient, constitutes a necessary duty of a QME when requested. Good preparation ...

At the recent American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Annual Meeting, we engaged with numerous young residents and fellows who are eager to begin QME work. ...

Whether or not you live in California, you probably have seen colleagues travel some distance for QME exams and question whether QMEs pay well enough ...

While passing the QME examination is an accomplishment in itself, establishment of a good reputation as a QME requires more than just obtaining the basic ...

While it’s difficult to guarantee any profession is entirely impervious to fluctuations in the market, the role of a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) has characteristics ...

Apportionment refers to the allocation or division of the causation of an injured worker’s condition. Addressing apportionment in QME reports is critical as it determines ...