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Goals

The Academy of Independent Medical Examiners of Hawaii was founded to promote access to appropriate, cost effective medical care and specialized treatment of the highest quality for remediation of injury and rehabilitation of individuals who have sustained injury through utilization of fair, unbiased and independent medical examinations.

Purposes

- Advancement of the art and science of independent examinations
- Professional education
- Peer consultation
- Community education

 

In the adversarial and often contentious workers’ compensation and no-fault systems, the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who have sustained serious injury is often delayed or forestalled due to extended litigation and the hearing process. Such delays result in unnecessary, prolonged periods of disability, lack of adequate care and treatment for injury, and increased pain and suffering.
A fair, unbiased, and independent medical examination transcends the adversarial process and serves to:

- Assess the cause and extent of injury and expedite the provision of adequate treatment
- Facilitate the coordination of multi-disciplinary rehabilitative treatment
- Provide direction for appropriate case management
- Accurately and impartially assess the extent of permanent partial impairment
- Reduce the period of disability
- Reduce the costs of litigation

The Academy of Independent Medical Examiners of Hawaii, A.I.M.E. HI., was founded to assure the availability of comprehensive, fair and independent evaluations through continuing education, peer consultation, inter-disciplinary forums, and community education.

 

The Academy of Independent Medical Examiner of Hawaii, A.I.M.E.H.I., is a professional association, does not accept referrals directly, and is not sponsored by any other group or interest. It is stricly non-profit. We hope that this service will be valuable not only to medical practitioners, but also attorneys, claims adjustor and legislators.

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AIMEHI (Academy of Independent Medical Examiners Hawaii) Code of Ethics

1) I will be honest, objective and impartial in formulating my opinions. I will clearly explain the basis for my opinions.
2) I will make a conscious effort to educate others, including physicians, attorneys, claims adjusters, arbitrators and other interested parties, regarding the principles and protocols involved in the IME process.
3) I will make every reasonable effort to be accommodating and available for any subsequent adjudication of the case, should it extend beyond the parameters of the original evaluation and report.
4) Although no doctor/patient relationship exists in the IME process, if a health threatening condition is discovered, I will bring this information to the examinee’s attention and instruct them to seek appropriate medical care.
5) Fees for my professional services will be based on time, expertise, and complexity. They will never be based on the outcome of the opinion.
6) If conflicts arise in performing Independent Medical Examinations I will strive to do what is right and honorable.
7) I will be respectful in all professional communications.
8) I will treat all examinees with dignity and respect.

____________________________________Signed

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THE NATIONAL AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS GUIDELINES OF CONDUCT

ABIME
American Board of Independent Medical Examiners

Guidelines of Conduct:
Each physician certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME) has agreed to comply with these guidelines of conduct:
Physicians should:
1. Be honest in all communications;
2. Respect the rights of the examinees and other participants, and treat these individuals with dignity and respect;
3. At the medical examination:
a. Introduce himself/herself to the examinee as the examining physician
b. Advise the examinee they are seeing him/her for an independent medical examination, and the information provided will be used in the assessment and presented in a report;
c. Provide the examinee with the name of the party requesting the examination, if requested;
d. Advise the examinee that no treating physician—patient relationship will be established;
e. Explain the examination procedure;
f. Provide adequate draping and privacy if the examinee needs to remove clothing for the examination;
g. Refrain from derogatory comments; and
h. Close the examination by telling the examinee that the examination is over and ask if there is further information the examinee would like to add.
4. Reach conclusions that are based on facts and sound medical knowledge and for which the independent medical examiner has adequate qualifications to address;
5. Be prepared to address conflict in a professional and constructive manner;
6. Never accept a fee for services which are dependent upon writing a report favorable to the referral service; and
7. Maintain confidentiality consistent with the applicable legal jurisdiction.By signing below I agree to abide by the ABIME Guidelines of Conduct
Signature: Date: