...Charles N. Brooks, MD; Christopher R. Brigham, MD Maximum medical improvement (MMI) and its multiple synonyms are important terms to understand because one cannot determine permanent impairment until a condition has resolved or reached a stable plateau with respect to improvement. Further, in many...

....” Patients who present for assessment of causation, maximum medical improvement (MMI), and permanent impairment can be challenging. For some examinees, after 6 to 12 months without outgoing improvement and with appropriate investigation, treatment, and rehabilitation, the examinee can be considered at MMI...

...Charles N Brooks, MD The term maximum medical improvement (MMI) is important to understand because an evaluator cannot determine permanent impairment until a condition is permanent and stationary. In addition, in many jurisdictions MMI represents the date beyond which at least some benefits cease...

...Charles N. Brooks, MD; Christopher R. Brigham, MD Most acute injuries and illnesses resolve, ie, reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), within days or weeks and without permanent impairment. Fractures, more severe soft tissue injuries and illness, and conditions that require surgery take longer...

...Christopher R. Brigham, MD; James B. Talmage, MD Permanent impairment cannot be assessed until the patient is at maximum medical improvement (MMI), but the proper time to test following carpal tunnel release often is not clear. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ( AMA Guides...

...James B. Talmage, MD This is a brief introduction to maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is pertinent to permanent impairment assessment. The definition and explanation of MMI according to the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) , Sixth Edition, is discussed. ©...

... not alter the rating for a cervical or lumbar fusion at the time the patient's condition is determined to be at maximum medical improvement (MMI). The term adjacent segment degeneration refers to the presence of radiographic findings of degenerative disc disease, including disc space narrowing, instability...

... notice in Table 17-6 (page 575, 6th ed), Functional History Adjustment: Spine, that a GMFH value of “0” means the patient is asymptomatic. If the patient is indeed asymptomatic at maximum medical improvement (MMI), then impairment Class 0 should be chosen, not Class 1. Because a GMFH value of “0...

... the assignment of one of four classes of findings and interferences with ADLs. Impairment is based on objective findings when the individual is at maximum medical improvement. © 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. 2012 American Medical Association Question: In rating a triangular...

... it has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning it is well-stabilized and unlikely to change substantially in the next year with or without medical treatment. MMI is defined in the Fifth Edition (page 19) as a medical condition that is static and well stabilized the “date from which further...

... tunnel release procedure, the physician declares the patient to be at maximum medical improvement and uses tables in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition, to rate 19% whole person impairment and to apportion 90% to work activities. Readers can pause at this point...

... indemnification (the amount is determined by the jurisdiction). Benefits continue until the disabling condition either permits a return to work or reaches a plateau at which healing ends and no significant improvement is likely (maximum medical improvement or a permanent and stationary condition). How the award...

..., diagnosed maximum medical improvement, and, using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ( AMA Guides ), assessed 11% whole person impairment. Readers are encouraged to use the materials presented to this point to prepare their own rating that they can compare with an analysis (published...

... improvement without treatment and the degree of anticipated improvement that could be expected with treatment. (5th ed, 20) Therefore, if it is clear that your patient would not have surgery, he or she would be placed at maximum medical improvement. You should note in your report that, hypothetically...

... living. 2.6a.6 (Section 2.6, Preparing Reports, 22) 2.6a.8 (Section 2.6, Preparing Reports, 22) 2.6a.8 (Section 2.6, Preparing Reports, 22) 2.6a.8 (Section 2.6, Preparing Reports, 22) Maximum Medical Improvement ▭ Discussed the medical basis for determining whether the person...

... state laws have unique definitions of “maximum medical improvement.” Next, the evaluator should establish a definitive diagnosis that identifies the existence of an abnormality and impairment of the activities of daily living. Based on his or her judgment and expertise, training, skill, and thoroughness...

... injured his back and neck at work and who reached maximum medical improvement in 1994. At issue was which edition of the AMA Guides to use to measure the claimant's permanent partial impairment (PPI). Specifically, the question was whether to evaluate the impairment according to the Range of Motion (ROM...

...; the greatest source of error is examiner inexperience. Evaluations should take place only when the patient is at maximum medical improvement, and evaluators must distinguish between impairment related to the alleged injury and that due to other injury, degenerative disease, or illness, not self-reports. A box...

... as the lateral part of his left elbow. At maximum medical improvement (MMI), the individual complained of moderate pain at rest and severe pain with repetitive forceful gripping and grasping. Radiographs taken at MMI showed a healed distal radius fracture in anatomic position with no posttraumatic arthritis...

... are rated using the rating systems for the affected organ system when the individual is at maximum medical improvement (MMI). In addition, the risk of future impairment should be assessed when the individual is at MMI, and that rating should be combined with the rating for organ system vascular compromise...