Medico-legal assessments, often referred to as Independent Medical Examinations, are typically requested for the purpose of an ongoing injury compensation claim by a lawyer, the insurance company or the insurer’s lawyer. However, the medicolegal field is broad and spans all industries, with many Independent Medical Examiners (IME) relied upon for their opinion directly to employers in relation to workplace health and safety matters, internal workplace injury management and even dispute resolution.
An independent expert will be nominated by the insurer, solicitor or company to determine a claimant’s level of disability or impairment and a medico-legal report contains significantly more detail than GP Progress Medical Certificates.
The medico-legal path is often viewed as an activity for professionals at the end of their medical career, however there is a wealth of opportunity for younger, yet experienced professionals to develop their independent reporting and examination skills to apply to a wide array of industries.
Here are five reasons why you should consider working in the medico-legal arena.
Other than a few additional days of accreditation formalities, you’ve already got the skill set to provide this sector with expertise. And, dependant on type and speciality, the fees for a single medico-legal report can range anywhere from a $1000 to over $7,000 with weekly IME volumes between 5-8.
The market for medico-legal is mature but there are opportunities for savvy entrants. After all, accidents will happen, and people are injured. There is a public good to facilitating a compensation outcome, both for the injured person’s ongoing way of life and relief of the societal systems that support injured people.
The list of potential customers for medico-legal professionals includes Work Cover, Insurers, plaintiff & defendant solicitors, Veterans Affairs, self-insured employers and groups as well as large employers.
Great report writing is a skill that is carried throughout a career. In this arena, the doctor’s main responsibility is to the Court where the case is heard and not to the firm or company that has engaged the doctor. Given the expert testimony provided, and that it may be challenged in Court, the reports are expected to be of the highest standard and remain impartial and objective in nature.
There are many opportunities to network through the cross-over of medical and legal fields. Accidents can happen to anyone in a myriad of ways so the clinic will be exposed to clients and patients from a wide variety of sources. Direct advisory positions to large multinationals and insurers are common areas for specialists to diversify their skillset.
Just like medical professionals, lawyers have access to specialist funding companies. These companies, like legal disbursement specialist Providior, are engaged by the law firm and are motivated to pay your invoices on the same day they receive them. This gives you reliable cash flow and in turn ensures your medical report is released to the law firm immediately keeping the legal matter moving forward. This alleviates a common issue that many IMEs face and it is the reason that pre-payment is so common in the medico legal industry.
This article was prepared in conjunction with Providior. If you’re a specialist interested in income security through diversification, then call Luke Shaw from Providior on 0405 313 590 or email luke.shaw@providior.com.au.