It’s the question we hear most from first-time referrers: “Do I need a full examination, or will a review of the records do?” Choosing correctly saves time and money — and choosing wrong can mean a report that doesn’t actually answer your question. Here’s how to decide.
The short version
An Independent Medical Examination (IME) involves a physician physically examining the claimant. A document review reaches a medical opinion from the existing records alone, with no examination. The deciding factor is almost always one thing: does answering your question require fresh clinical findings, or is the existing record enough?
Rule of thumb: If you need a current, hands-on assessment of the claimant’s present condition or function, you need an IME. If your question can be answered by an expert interpreting what’s already documented, a document review is faster and cheaper.
When an IME is the right call
Choose an IME when the question depends on the claimant’s present-day clinical picture — something only a current examination can establish:
- Current functional capacity — what the person can and cannot do right now, for return-to-work or disability decisions.
- Present impairment or symptoms — where the records are old, incomplete, or contradicted by surveillance or other evidence.
- Examination-dependent findings — range of motion, neurological signs, or anything requiring direct clinical testing.
- High-stakes litigation — where an in-person expert assessment carries more weight at trial or in settlement.
When a document review is enough
Choose a document review when the clinical record already contains the facts, and what you need is expert interpretation of them:
- Causation analysis — whether a documented condition is related to a specific event, based on the medical history.
- Treatment appropriateness — whether care provided was reasonable and necessary.
- Second opinions on diagnosis — where the diagnostic workup is already in the file.
- Pre-litigation file assessment — an early read on the medical merits before committing to a full IME.
Still not sure? That's fine.
This is exactly why our referral form includes a “Not sure” option for assessment type. Tell us your question and send what you have — and we’ll tell you honestly which service answers it. If a document review will do, we won’t upsell you to an IME. If the records can’t support a reliable opinion, we’ll say so before you spend a dollar.
The Veridia approach: Honest recommendation, right-sized to your question. We’d rather earn a smaller fee and your long-term trust than the reverse.