How Can You Best Prepare for the Day of Your QME?

Is your Qualified Medical Examination (QME) quickly approaching? You’re probably a little worried about how you can prepare for the day of your QME. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with helpful tips on what guidelines you should follow on the day of your QME to ensure that you receive proper treatment.

What should you do the day of your QME?

According to Healthpointe’s very own Dr. Andrade, an AME, IME, Medical Documentation Analyst and Consultant, here is what you should do the day of your QME to ensure the best results:

1. Be on time! Being late can have a very bad impression on the doctor who is conducting the examination. We recommend being on time, or even being 20-30 minutes early so that you can find the location of the examination, and have enough time for any parking mishaps.
2. Bring notes. Bringing notes can help you if you feel overwhelmed during the examination, and they can ensure that you are giving the examiner the correct information. Bring notes about what treatments you have received or ones you are receiving, as well as a record of the medications that have been prescribed to you. It is okay to have notes, and you should be sure to bring any other relevant materials that will make you feel prepared for the examination.
3. Do not take pain medication before the examination, if possible. This will give the examiner a more honest representation of your daily pain. If you must take your pain medication, be sure to have a detailed explanation of your pain levels before and after you take your medications (this is also helpful to bring in regardless). Again, also make sure to bring a list of the medications that you are taking.
4. If you had prior injuries, tell the doctor, and don’t try to hide past accidents. The examiner will look at the mechanism of your injury, and if you had any prior injuries, they must be brought up. Any assumption of dishonesty will only hurt your case, and may lead to inadequate treatment for your injuries.
5. Don’t exaggerate the severity of your pain. You do not want to lie or exaggerate any pain, because the medical examiner has extensive knowledge about pain and how the body works. Do not lie, as this can look very poorly upon your case, and again, may lead to you not receiving the right type of treatment for your injuries.
6. Be polite, and don’t debate the doctor. Be sure that you are being respectful of what the doctor is saying and asking of you. Ultimately, they are going to give their opinion on your case, so you must be polite and respectful during the examination.
7. Most importantly: be honest. You need to be honest about every aspect of the treatment you have received, your pain level, the incident in which you were injured, and all other details. This will help the medical examiner build trust with you, and hopefully, they will help you receive all the treatment you need. This principle should guide you through life, but is also extremely important to practice during the entirety of the examination. Since a QME is both a medical and legal evaluation, lying during this examination could potentially lead to legal consequences.

If you are suffering from any personal injuries and need assistance in a medical examination, or need treatment for your injuries, Healthpointe’s excellent doctors and staff are here to support you. For examination and appointment information, you can visit our website, or call (888) 824-5580.