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- Author or Editor: Lorne K. Direnfeld x
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Abstract
Lower urinary tract dysfunction may result from a variety of neurologic disorders, including traumatic spinal cord injury, head injury, a cauda equina syndrome, or trauma to the peripheral lumbosacral nerves. Urinary incontinence can be divided into five categories: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, overflow incontinence, and total incontinence. A table lists each type, provides a description, and gives both common and neurological examples. Evaluation of voiding dysfunction should not be based on symptoms alone, and urodynamic evaluation is required also. Indeed, urodynamic evaluation is the only means to establish a functional interrelationship of the components of the lower urinary tract. Most ratings of neurogenic bladder dysfunction are performed using Section 4.3d, Urinary Bladder Dysfunction, and Table 17, Criteria for Neurologic Impairment of the Bladder in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Ratings for whole-person permanent impairment depend on symptomatology (ie, urgency, dribbling, or incontinence), voluntary control, and bladder reflex activity. If problems with urinary system dysfunction are related to a combination of neurologic and urologic pathology, including pathology in the upper urinary tract, ratings from both sections can be combined using the Combined Values Chart.
Abstract
An independent medical evaluation (IME) may be more comprehensive and may contain more elements than an impairment evaluation, but to date no standards have defined a high-quality IME. The authors, a group of experienced IME physicians, note the variability of requirements in individual IME cases, but they have identified standards that generally apply to IME reports and include the following: definition of IME and key concepts; examiner qualifications; methodology and procedures; the physical examination; suggested generalized report format; and quality assurance. An IMR is a specialized examination and report, ideally performed by a medical physician with special training and experience in IMEs; an IME is not a medical consultation and report but rather an opportunity to determine diagnosis and document the clinical course over time. Examiners should be qualified by experience and qualifications and ideally should have a special credential from an independent medical examiners association and must be knowledgeable about IME report writing. A section of the article describes the structure of the IME report, which may vary from examiner to examiner but should include careful attention to descriptive data, history, record review, oral history, physical examination, records of other objective data, and an opinion section (with diagnoses, discussion, past medical treatment, maximum medical improvement, future medical treatment, causation and apportionment, disability/functional status, prognosis, answers to specific questions, and references.
Abstract
The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition, states that an independent medical evaluation (IME) usually is a “one-time evaluation performed by an independent medical examiner who is not treating the patient or claimant, to answer questions posed by the party requesting the IME.” Evaluators must adhere to best practice standards and must know that these standards may change over time and must meet the needs of the relevant jurisdiction. IMEs take place in several arenas, including automobile casualty, workers’ compensation, personal injury, medical malpractice, and long-term disability and differ from traditional clinical evaluations. The evaluating physician must be independent and has no (or only a limited) physician–patient relationship. The qualifications required of an IME examiner vary by arena, jurisdiction, and issues. Medical evaluators should be board certified and can obtain a special credential from, eg, the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners or the International Association of Independent Medical Evaluators. In addition, evaluators should have demonstrated abilities in report writing and court testimony, and a section of this article provides a general outline of the topics that should be covered in a thorough report. Quality IME reports are the result of thoughtful, thorough evaluations performed by physicians who have knowledge, skills, and experience in both clinical medicine and the assessment of medicolegal issues.
Abstract
Physicians performing impairment evaluations on patients with cognitive complaints and possible central nervous system disorders should perform a clinical mental status assessment. Assessing cognitive complaints efficiently, in a systematic and supportable way, can be challenging. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment specifies that objective criteria are important to consider when assessing impairment. Physicians may choose to use standardized cognitive screening tests (cognitive screeners) as a relatively quick, practical tool to initially assess patients and aid in decision making. Several cognitive screeners will be discussed in detail below. A patient's performance on such tests may indicate that more comprehensive testing is needed. Cognitive screeners have limitations and are not designed to assess symptom validity or the extent to which psychological factors may contribute to cognitive complaints. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment may be indicated in these situations and when the screeners demonstrate findings of potential concern help define MMI.
