OrthoLegal Insights:
Commentary from our
QME Experts.
OrthoLegal’s commentary is written for the people in California’s medical-legal system: orthopaedic QMEs and AMEs, the attorneys who read their reports and the injured workers the reports are about. New posts cover evaluations, report writing, apportionment, case law and practice management, twice a week. Start with our page on QME evaluations or the page for physicians.
Level up: how to move from QME to AME
AMEs perform essentially the same duties as QMEs, and yet make 35% more per encounter. They enjoy steady income streams and are permitted to retire ...
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Total Permanent Disability vs. Partial Permanent Disability – What’s the Difference?
Total Permanent Disability vs. Partial Permanent Disability – What’s the Difference? Maximal Medical Improvement is when an injured worker plateaus in improvement after an injury ...
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An Orthopaedic QME’s Toolkit
The Orthopaedic physical examination required in a forensic examination by a Qualified Medical Evaluator of an injured worker in California through the Division of Workers’ ...
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Over Fifty Years with the AMA Guides
The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment is a widely used resource in Workers’ Compensation systems to assess and quantify the extent of ...
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Cover letters to the QME: what do I do with this?
As a QME, you will receive a cover letter for nearly every report you’re expected to write, including Initial Evaluations, Re-evaluations, and Supplemental Reports. Reading ...
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2022 California DWC Panel Selection Statistics
Contested Workers’ Compensation claims in California are largely selected by QMEs, who are appointed physicians by the State of California to settle the disputes. A ...
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Maintaining Income into Retirement as a QME in California
Economic challenges have led to many physicians, including Orthopaedic Surgeons, working clinically longer than expected. Planning for retirement may require additional ancillary income beyond the ...
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Should I Travel for QME Evaluations?
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 ...
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Staying out of Trouble as a QME: Using a Management Company to Ensure Compliance with DWC Regulations in California
The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) sets the rules a QME works under: appointment and reporting time frames, records service, ethical requirements and reappointment ...
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Why You Need a Management Company for your California QME Practice
A Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) practice management company should streamline and improve the efficiency of your medicolegal practice. While QMEs are primarily focused on providing ...
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What Makes a Good Medicolegal Management Company?
A good medicolegal management company plays a crucial role in assisting QME physicians in managing the complex intersection of medical and legal issues within the ...
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The Great Compromise: A Brief History of the California Workers’ Compensation System.
During the Industrial Revolution, there was a significant surge in occupational injuries and illnesses due to migration into cities and the poor working conditions of ...
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