Medical Exams and Second Opinions

An Independent Medical Examination is common in complex Workers' Compensation cases. Often in complex cases, a party representing the injured worker or a party representing the insurance provider may request an examination by an “independent” third party (i.e. A doctor not affiliated with either the patient or the insurance provider). These examinations are very common and are meant to ensure that the patient is receiving prompt and appropriate care so that he or she can return to health as quickly and as safely as possible. Dr. Kaplan, Dr. Carlson, and the staff at Active Orthopaedics will go out of their way to ensure that patients being seen for an Independent Medical Examination feel comfortable and that examination is thorough and complete.

Second Opinions are an important aspect of the care of patients, especially in those with complex or long-standing cases. It is understandable that sometimes patients leave a doctor’s office and are confused or uncertain about what to do next. Patients are encouraged to contact Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Carlson at Active Orthopaedics to schedule an appointment for a Second Opinion if they are unsure about a diagnosis or simply if they just want to learn more about how they can get back to health as quickly as possible. Both Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Carlson pride themselves on spending time speaking with patients about their diagnoses and discussing the different treatment options. They feel strongly about treating each patient as an individual to develop a personalized treatment plan.