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	Independent Medical Evaluations (IME)     Long considered the backbone of the independent medical examination consulting industry, IMEs were routinely ordered whenever questions arose in medical claims cases. However, over the years, IMEs have lost their initial importance, turning from a valuable asset into nothing more than a negotiation tool for settlement. As a result, the average dollar value of claims has risen while premium rates have declined.   Why traditional IMEs have lost credibility:    “Doc in a Box” patient processing – often 15-25 patients are seen per day, per  examiner, averaging 20 minutes or less per evaluation.  Poor medical records processing – Inaccurate and/or incomplete data gathering,  poor documentation, lack of access to records by examiners prior to seeing the  patient.  Lack of understanding – examiners often aren’t familiar with the different types of  insurance claims and so ask the wrong questions. Some are expected to evaluate  conditions and illnesses for which they are not trained.  “Clear the desk” mentality – overworked and underpaid examiners often skew  IME findings to give clients what they want to hear, coloring or even ignoring the  actual facts and merits of the case.  Poorly-prepared reports – all of the above can result in a superficial, poorly  documented report that simply does not stand up under scrutiny. The TPN Model     We’ve worked hard to completely redefine how independent medical evaluations are performed and utilized. It starts with viewing them as a tool-of-last-resort, employed only after other methods, such as record evaluation, interviews, and in-depth discussions have failed to yield the proper results. Often an IME is not even necessary, saving time and money. When one is appropriate, they can and should be done at different stages of a claim, depending on the merits of each individual case. In response, we have created a three-tiered IME program: Early Intervention, Standard, and Extended.   The TPN Difference:    We select the right medical expert for the right evaluation  We assist you with preparing the pertinent documentation for the expert  We view thorough history-taking as vital to the evaluation of a claimant  We ensure that the expert knows and thoroughly understands the type of coverage  involved and the State of Loss to which it pertains.  We provide whatever educational information is needed for the expert to prepare  and submit an in-depth, credible report, consistent with the regulations of the state  in which the claim is filed.   As a result, our methodology often uncovers pre-existing medical conditions, discovers subsequent accidents, and obtains the names of medical care providers previously unknown to the claims professional, to name a few deciding factors that can dramatically affect exposure to a claim.
	Providing insight into medical claims® Since 1991 Boston * New York * Atlanta Web Services Provided by Tech-N-Go, Greenland, NH The Physician Network, Inc., 2 Village Green Rd, Suite A-3, Hampstead NH 03841 Tel: 800-777-6160 Fax: 800-999-6160 E-mail: scheduling@TPNexpert.com