John, a trusted employee for many years,
hasn't been himself lately . . .
His supervisor reports escalating outbursts of unprovoked anger and rage. On several occasions you've had to call him into your office to try and calm him down. Yesterday, John began screaming at co-workers for no apparent reason and eventually had to be sent home.
While the incident described above is a fictional one, it may unfortunately be a scenario your company is all too familiar with. As an employer, you need to act quickly, responsibly, and fairly. The most effective way to accomplish this is by promptly arranging an IME evaluation with a qualified psychiatric examiner.
What's an IME?
The term "I M E" is an acronym for "Independent Medical Evaluation," and refers to any psychiatric or medical evaluation performed by a neutral (i.e., independent) practitioner who has no treatment, financial, or professional relationship with the examinee or the examinee's care givers.
IMEs are most frequently requested by insurance companies to independently evaluate disability status and/or appropriateness and need for treatment issues. Similarly, employers may also request IMEs to address employee
fitness for duty concerns.
Who Should I Call to Arrange an IME?
Someone like The Forest Hills IPA, a nationwide network of licensed mental health professionals
and consultants with a great deal of experience handing psychiatric disability and fitness for duty
cases.
Our comprehensive IME process guarantees that employers get timely and objective clinical opinions
on psychiatric fitness for duty issues from experienced, board certified professionals. For each case submitted to us we will:
review all medical and employee records.
prepare the IME referral questions.
select an appropriate psychiatric examiner.
provide "same day of the IME" notification of duty fitness.
review and interpret the examiner's findings.
handle follow up evaluations when needed.
Immediate Professional Access
Protocols and requirements for arranging psychiatric fitness for duty evaluations vary greatly from one company to another. What's more, the urgent nature of psychiatric fitness for duty evaluations requires they be scheduled without delay.
At FHIPA, clients and prospective clients always have immediate access to a licensed professional consultant. In most cases, we can locate an appropriate examiner and schedule your IME appointment in 24 hours for a date within five business days of your call.
For More Information
If you're interested in learning more about psychiatric fitness for duty evaluations, or would like to work out an appropriate IME evaluation process for your company, please contact me at any time during regular business hours.
Business Services
