Psycholegal & Clinical Assessment Services

PROVIDING EXPERT FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY EVALUATIONS IN ILLINOIS, GEORGIA, AND KANSAS

CALL US TODAY for a FREE CONSULTATION at 630-780-1085 or 404-504-7039 or visit our Contact Us page

Independent Medical Examinations (IME’s)

Dr. Steven Gaskell at Psycholegal & Clinical Assessment Services offers psychological evaluations for insurance companies and attorneys in disability insurance matters and Independent Medical Examinations (IME).

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) is when a psychologist who has not previously been involved in a person’s care examines an individual. There is not a therapist-patient relationship. IMEs may be conducted to determine the cause, extent and medical treatment of a work-related or other injury where liability is at issue; whether an individual has reached maximum benefit from treatment; and whether any permanent impairment remains after treatment. An IME may be conducted at the request of an employer or an insurance carrier to obtain an independent opinion of the clinical status of the individual. Workers’ compensationinsurance carriers, auto insurance carriers, and self-insured employers have a legal right to this request. Should the psychologist performing the IME conclude that a patient’s medical condition is not related to a compensatable event, the insurer may deny the claim and refuse payment.

IMEs are requested for several reasons. The individual may have been in treatment for an extended period of time and there is concern regarding whether the treatment continues to be medically indicated, whether treatment will be required for an extended period into the future, whether continued treatment is related to a specific event, or whether there are any permanent disabilities as a result of the trauma. Since IMEs are usually requested in connection with traumatic injury and litigation, the question also arises regarding whether there is any indication of malingering. Dr. Gaskell has a clinical assessment and psychological testing protocol for the comprehensive assessment of possible malingering of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The psychologist completing an IME is typically engaged by either the insurance carrier or the defendant in a litigation case. As such, the individual being evaluated is not always completely candid with the evaluator, and at times there is a hostile relationship, involving considerable suspicion. Psychologists completing IMEs must be careful not to overstate test findings, or over interpret resistance on the part of the person being evaluated, because this suspiciousness is normal and to be expected. However, statements regarding injuries should not be taken at face value without examining the individual for signs of the symptoms reported and performing symptom validity testing.

IMEs generally involve:

Review of relevant medical and psychological treatment records to assess pre-injury and post-injury functioning
Relevant background information: personal history, education and employment history, mental health history, substance abuse history, social history, and medical history
Clinical interview
Collateral interviews, as needed, regarding the disabled individual’s pre-injury and post-injury functioning
Psychological testing involving evaluation of general psychopathology, personality factors, and trauma
Psychological assessment of malingering and deception

Office Locations

Illinois

Main Office – Naperville, Illinois

Psycholegal & Clinical Assessment Services
2135 City Gate Lane, Suite 300
Naperville, Illinois 60563

Office Phone: 630-780-1085
Cell Phone : 630-903-9193
Email : drgaskell@gmail.com

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Please direct all mailing to the below Naperville Office