IMEs Explained

Interventional Pain Management IME vs Spinal Orthopedic IME

FAQs

Question	Answer
1. What is an Interventional Pain Management IME?	An Interventional Pain Management IME (Independent Medical Examination) is an evaluation performed by a pain management specialist to assess and diagnose the cause of a patient’s pain and recommend appropriate interventional pain management treatments.
2. What is a Spinal Orthopedic IME?	A Spinal Orthopedic IME (Independent Medical Examination) is an evaluation conducted by an orthopedic specialist who specializes in spinal conditions. It focuses specifically on assessing and diagnosing spinal disorders or injuries and providing recommendations for treatment.
3. How are they different?	The main difference between Interventional Pain Management IME and Spinal Orthopedic IME lies in the specialization of the evaluating physician. While an Interventional Pain Management IME focuses on diagnosing and treating pain using interventional techniques, a Spinal Orthopedic IME focuses on assessing and treating spinal conditions.
4. Who performs an Interventional Pain Management IME?	An Interventional Pain Management IME is performed by a pain management specialist, usually an anesthesiologist, who has completed additional training in interventional pain management techniques.
5. Who performs a Spinal Orthopedic IME?	A Spinal Orthopedic IME is conducted by an orthopedic specialist who has expertise in treating spinal disorders and injuries.
6. What conditions are typically evaluated in an Interventional Pain Management IME?	Interventional Pain Management IMEs typically evaluate conditions such as chronic back pain, neck pain, sciatica, migraines, and various types of joint pain.
7. What conditions are typically evaluated in a Spinal Orthopedic IME?	A Spinal Orthopedic IME typically evaluates conditions such as spinal fractures, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and other spinal deformities or injuries.
8. What treatments are recommended in an Interventional Pain Management IME report?	An Interventional Pain Management IME report may recommend treatments such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, or other interventional pain procedures.
9. What treatments are recommended in a Spinal Orthopedic IME report?	A Spinal Orthopedic IME report may recommend treatments such as physical therapy, medication, spinal surgery, spinal decompression, or other conservative or surgical approaches depending on the specific condition.
10. When should an Interventional Pain Management IME be sought?	An Interventional Pain Management IME should be sought when a patient is experiencing chronic or persistent pain that has not responded to conservative treatments and requires a specialized evaluation to determine the appropriate interventional pain management approach.