An independent medical examination, or IME, occurs when a doctor who has not previously been involved in a person's care examines an individual to calculate the degree of impairment or to offer a professional opinion on the patient’s treatment course or return to work status. There is no doctor-patient relationship, meaning the doctor performing the IME will not prescribe medications or see the patient for follow-up care.

Independent medical exams include:

• Physical exam specific only to the body part affected by the injury. This exam may require the use of special instruments to measure the degree of movement in joints, loss of feeling in extremities, etc.
• Review of records
• Release of information (ROI) signed if more records are needed
• Vitals
• Picture ID (in color)