IME, Independent Medical Exam & Impairment Rating

IME, Independent Medical Exam & Impairment Rating in Kansas City

Need an objective medical opinion for a workers’ comp, OWCP or injury claim? Core Medical Center provides physician-directed independent medical exams and impairment ratings in Blue Springs, serving injured workers, employers, case managers and attorneys across the Greater Kansas City metro. We review the records, examine the patient and deliver a clear, defensible report.

In short: an independent medical exam is a one-time evaluation by a physician who is not your treating doctor, used to document your diagnosis, current condition and any permanent impairment so a claim can move toward a decision or settlement.

What an Independent Medical Exam Is

An IME is a structured, objective evaluation requested when a claim needs a neutral medical opinion. It is not treatment and it does not replace your regular provider. The exam answers specific questions: what the diagnosis is, whether the injury is work related, whether you have reached maximum medical improvement, and how much permanent impairment, if any, remains.

We approach every exam the same way:

• A careful review of your medical records, imaging and prior reports
• A focused physical examination relevant to the claimed injury
• A written report that ties our findings to the questions asked
• An impairment rating when one is requested, based on recognized guidelines

Who Requests an IME

Independent medical exams and impairment ratings are most often requested by the people who manage a claim:

• Injured workers who need an objective record of their condition
• Employers and case managers seeking clarity on diagnosis, work-relatedness or return-to-duty status
• Attorneys building or responding to a personal injury or workers’ comp case
• Insurers and the Department of Labor finalizing an OWCP or state claim

Because Core Medical Center treats injured workers every day through our workers’ compensation and OWCP doctor services, our exams are grounded in real clinical experience with these injuries, not just a chart review.

How the Exam Works

Most independent medical exams are completed in a single visit. You arrive, we confirm the questions being asked and the records on file, and your physician performs the evaluation. We measure range of motion, strength and function where relevant, and we document objective findings rather than impressions.

After the exam, we prepare a written report. When an impairment rating is part of the request, we calculate it after the injury has reached maximum medical improvement, using established rating guidelines, and we explain the basis for the number so it holds up to review. Reports are returned to the requesting party promptly so the claim is not held up.

Why Choose Core Medical Center

Your exam is led by physicians who understand both the clinical and the documentation side of injury care. Dr. Aston Goldsworthy, DC, MSN, FNP-BC, our founder, focuses on occupational medicine and federal injury care, and Dr. Patrick Goldsworthy, DC, Dipl. Orthopedics, brings orthopedic depth to musculoskeletal evaluations. Because our medical, chiropractic and rehabilitation teams share one building in Blue Springs, we can examine, document and, when needed, point you toward injury rehabilitation without sending you across town. We are minutes from Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Centerpoint Medical Center.

A few things set our exams apart:

• Objective, claim-ready reports written to answer the exact questions posed
• Impairment ratings based on recognized guidelines, with the reasoning spelled out
• Familiarity with federal claims through our federal workers’ compensation and personal injury doctor work
• A single Blue Springs location for the exam, records review and any follow-up care

What to Expect When You Book

Bring your claim number, the requested questions and any records or imaging you have, and we will handle the rest. We keep scheduling simple, and same-week appointments are typically available, so a pending claim is not waiting weeks for an evaluation.

Ready to schedule an independent medical exam or impairment rating in the Kansas City area? Book your visit at our Blue Springs office and we will confirm what to bring for your specific claim.