Finally tried a QME instead of fighting with my regular doctor about work restrictions

I spent 6 months going back and forth with my primary care doc about what I could and couldn't do after my shoulder injury at the warehouse in San Jose. He kept writing vague notes that my employer's insurance used to deny my modified duty requests. Last month I got approved for a Qualified Medical Evaluation through my case and it was night and day different. The QME specialist actually measured my range of motion with that goniometer thing and gave specific pound limits for lifting and reaching. My adjuster couldn't argue with the numbers like they did with my regular doctor's notes. Now I finally have actual accommodations at work instead of getting stuck on light duty that still required overhead reaching. Has anyone else had better luck with a QME over their treating doctor?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnson.jesse7d ago

Yeah that goniometer made all the difference in my case too, my QME gave me a hard 15 pound limit for overhead work which my regular doc never wanted to put in writing. The insurance company's lawyers stopped fighting my restrictions as soon as they saw those measured numbers with degrees and specific weights. It's honestly the only way to get them to take your limitations seriously when you're dealing with work comp adjusters who count on vague medical notes.

betty_palmer7d ago

@johnson.jesse hard disagree, vague notes leave room for docs to adjust restrictions later.