Many corporations have workplace employee concerns involving medical factors that potentially affect worker performance, attendance, and safety in the workplace. These companies often do not have readily accessible means to seek an objective and knowledgeable medical review and opinion and often have to rely solely on the employee’s personal physician’s recommendations which often lack the experience to review these concerns through a more focused lens. Alternatively, you go the route of requesting an Independent Medical Examination (IME) which can be both costly and timely.
Employers have the right to request an independent medical opinion in regard to workplace suitability. This can be completed as a direct medical consultation with your company’s medical advisor
Winsor Health Services will provide you an Employer Referral form to utilize our services that will allow us to communicate with you and an Employee Consent form that will allows us to communicate with the employee’s medical provider(s) and our office to review the medical circumstances and offer appropriate workplace recommendations. At the same time the consent limits the recommendations to the workplace duties only (including precautions, limitation or restrictions and accommodations, if necessary) – therefore maintaining the employee’s medical confidentiality as required by law.
If the case is very complex and not understood after initial medical consultation, a formal Independent Medical Examination with the appropriate Medical or Surgical Specialist can still be requested; however this is rarely required. The doctor-to-doctor consultation can also aid in recommending the most appropriate type of IME and the specific questions that need to be asked in regard to the workplace function.
