As we prepare for our next series of educational events we would like to hear from you. It is important to know what your training needs are and how we can best meet those needs. With that in mind we would love to get your opinion. Please click on the following link and take a moment to complete a brief survey.

One respondee will receive a free one year subscription to www.GuidesIQ.com

Dr. Brigham has many years of experience performing IME evaluations and has determined what works and what does not work in an IME practice. He has created some excellent tools to assist you in preparing your high quality IME reports.

How would you like to increase efficiencies in your IME report preparation and the value of your report to your clients? You will find that our IME Form Kit will help you accomplish this result.

This unique, comprehensive system for preparing IME reports empowers you to make the most effective use of your time, enhance dramatically the value and quality of your evaluations, and increase the demand for your premium valued services.

The system is comprised of:

• IME Templates (includes instructions and templates in MS Word)
• IME Examinee Forms
• Orientation Information and Informed Consent
• Questionnaire
• Pain Drawing and Inventories
• Satisfaction Survey

In addition to using the IME Form Kit, the IME Index is designed to create a keyword index at the end of your report so your clients can easily search for specific topics within the context of your report. Dr. Brigham has found this to be a integral component to the IME report which is highly valued by the client.

We have received such positive feedback from our Webinar on Software Solutions for the IME Physician that attendees have asked for much more. Attendees agreed that the information provided was transformational and would result in dramatic improvement in the quality, efficiency and profitability of their practices. At the specific request of the attendees we are offering a unique workshop series providing step-by-step instruction on how to master Microsoft Office to make your practice more successful, more productive, and more profitable.

This series is limited to a small group of participants and there are specific requirements for attendance. Early registration is highly recommended; based on the response thus far we expect this to be filled to capacity.

• Do you want to transform your IME practice - achieving new levels of exceptional quality, efficiency and profitability?
• Do you want to learn techniques and secrets in two months that took twenty years to develop?
• Are you ready to engage yourself in a process that is capable of providing a multifold return on your nominal investment?

In terms of these resources most physicians don’t know that they don’t know – as a result they miss opportunities. Most physicians lag behind their clients in the use of technologies. You will learn easily applied “secrets”. Christopher R. Brigham, MD, FAADEP, FACOEM, CIME, one of the nation’s most highly regarded independent medical evaluator (IME) consultants, has a unique background in medicine, IMEs, computer sciences and business development. Although Dr. Brigham is most widely known for his skills in impairment evaluation and his publications in this field, prior to medicine, his background was with computer sciences. You could not have a better mentor in this field. Using Webinar technology you will view his actual computer screen and you will see demonstrated step-by-step approaches.

The workshop is limited to a small group format; once the group is filled a waiting list will be established. If openings become available others may participate. Throughout the webinars you will be able to speak directly with Dr. Brigham and your colleagues.

The schedule for this workshop is as follows:

• March 6th, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. PST
• March 20th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. PST
• April 3rd., 5:00-7:00 p.m. PST
• April 17th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. PST

Hundreds of people have already taken this web- based series on the Guides. This is a great course for novice impairment raters or as a refresher.

The Fundamentals is an overview on the use of the AMA Guides, with a focus on principles of impairment evaluation, and assessment of spine, upper extremity, lower extremity, neurological, and pain impairments. The seminar is offered in four convenient two hour sessions, totaling eight hours of superb training. This seminar is designed for physicians, attorneys, and claims staff with minimal or no experience in the use of the Guides. It is also an excellent review for individuals who may have attended an introductory course and desire further review and clarification. Most individuals require two to three learning experiences to grasp the complexities of impairment evaluation.

The schedule for this series is as follows:

• Thursday, March 1st 2:00-4:00 p.m. PST:
  Overview, Lower Extremity
• March 8th 2:00-4:00 p.m. PST:
  Upper Extremity
• March 15th 2:00-4:00 p.m. PST:
  Spine
• March 22, 2006 2:00-4:00 p.m. PST:
  Other Chapters & Strategies

Single Sessions Now Available!

Many of you have purchased the Physical Examination Essential DVD. The next step is to ensure that you have the proper tools to do the impairment evaluation properly.

Did you know that Brigham & Associates has all of the tools seen on the DVD for purchase at www.impairment.com?

Chapter Six: The Digestive System By Aimee Lazell, CIR, WCCP

This article is the sixth in a series intended to point out a few of the highlights from each chapter of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition (Cocchiarella L, Andersson G, AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition, AMA Press, 2001).

This article will discuss important points of reference for Chapter Six of the AMA Guides, which addresses the digestive system. Hernias are the most common rated condition referred to in this chapter. Ratings for hernias are most often times rated incorrectly. Hernias are discussed in Section 6.6 of the Guides (5th ed., 136-137). Section 6.6a Criteria for Rating Permanent Impairment Due to Herniation contains Table 6-9 titled the same (5th ed., 136) as shown below:

As you will see in each Class section above, in order for a hernia to result in permanent impairment there must be a “palpable defect in the supporting structures of the abdominal wall.” That means that if a person elects to undergo repair of their hernia this will likely result in 0% whole person impairment. There is a minimal chance that an operation could fail leaving a palpable defect and could result in permanent impairment. The most important take away from this discussion is that for any hernia rating, whether pre or post operation, in order for there to be any ratable impairment there must be a finding of a palpable defect noted in the physician’s physical examination.

Watch for the next article in the series, which will highlight sections of Chapter 7 The Urinary and Reproductive System.

Psychology is a often misunderstood topic in the arena of workers' compensation and disability management. We will be addressing your most pressing issues in our upcoming webinar series in May 2007.

Your leaders, Drs. Norma and Steve Leclair, are experienced mental health professionals with the unique experience of working both as clinicians and directly with employers, workers’ compensation carriers and disability insurers.

Stay tuned for more information on what is expected to be one of our most dynamic webinar series of the year.

• Do you have an issue that is recurring and unsure of how to handle it?
• Do you have a quick generalized question regarding impairment assessment?

Now you can submit your question and receive an answer in a timely manner! (If your question reference a specific case we may refer you to our Impairment Review service, as it is often necessary to review medical records to answer a specific question).