Independent Medical Examinations
Request independent assessments of health conditions that have led to workers’ compensation claims.
Trusted by leading Australian employers.
Who We Work With
What Is An Independent Medical Examination?
Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) are reports provided by an independent medical practitioner to a third party, like an insurer or legal representative.
They’re designed to help the third party understand the nature of a claimant’s health condition giving their opinion in relation to liability, causation, treatment, capacity and/or permanent impairment. Our doctors will provide a detailed report addressing the referrer’s specific questions which may assist with decision about treatment, rehabilitation, recovery timeframes, return to work and entitlements to compensation.
In workers’ compensation scenarios, the way IMEs must be conducted is prescribed by legislation.
Other types of IMEs, such as those for personal injury and motor vehicle claims, may have less stringent requirements.
We support insurers, self-insurers and lawyers with IMEs for workers’ compensation, personal injury, public liability and motor vehicle claims – but unfortunately not medical negligence claims.
Why Choose RediMed?
Your specific needs, risks and requirements are identified and managed by your dedicated customer relationship manager.
Have workers assessed by one of our GPs, occupational physicians, surgical specialists, or psychiatrists.
Our independent assessors are supported by a quality assurance unit, ensuring all findings are objective and ethically sound.
Our Approach To IMEs
Independent medical examinations can be stressful for workers.
Knowing that their compensation rests on the practitioner’s report can create anxiety and even defensiveness.
That’s why we conduct every examination with the highest levels of respect and care.
We explain our qualifications and our role as independent assessors, and obtain each worker’s fully informed consent – while never providing opinions or advice about their treatment or claim.
We’ve conducted thousands of IMEs since 2009.
Find out how we can help you obtain the genuinely objective assessments you need.
Assess Your Returning Employees
Before an employee returns to work after time off due to a health condition, they should undergo a fitness-for-work assessment.
Independent Medical Examination Process
Independent Medical Examination FAQs
Exactly who can provide an independent medical examination depends on your state or territory. Generally, the examiner must be an appropriately qualified medical practitioner.
Sometimes, the worker’s treating practitioner may technically be permitted to provide an IME, but, due to the pre-existing doctor–patient, it’s advisable to use a different practitioner. At RediMed, our medico-legal unit operates with strict information barrier protocols; even if a worker is being treated by another RediMed doctor, no patient-related contact is permitted between the two parties, resulting in genuinely objective IMEs.
If requested, workers should generally be allowed to have a non-family interpreter or chaperone present at their examination (although that person’s name should be recorded for posterity). Psychiatric assessments, though, should only involve the worker and their mental health practitioner.
There is no reason for representatives of the worker’s employer or insurer to be present during any IME.
The party responsible for paying IME-related costs varies from state to state. in WA and QLD, an IME is organised and paid for by the insurer.
