An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a medical evaluation performed by a physician who has no prior treating relationship with the examinee. The physician reviews available records, examines the individual, and provides a written medical opinion. In Tennessee, IMEs are requested in a wide range of legal, insurance, and employer contexts. This guide explains who typically needs an IME and what to expect from the process.
An IME provides an objective, third-party medical opinion on issues such as:
Tennessee's workers' compensation system is one of the most common settings for IMEs. Insurance carriers, self-insured employers, and their legal counsel request IMEs to evaluate the extent of a work-related injury, causation, maximum medical improvement, and return-to-work capacity. Tennessee law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-204) gives employers and carriers the right to request an independent examination when they dispute a treating physician's findings.
Plaintiff and defense attorneys in personal injury, disability, and workers' compensation litigation frequently retain IME physicians to provide expert medical opinions. These opinions may be used in depositions, mediation, settlement negotiations, or trial. An IME physician who specializes in occupational medicine is particularly well-suited for cases involving workplace injury, toxic exposure, or occupational disease.
Long-term disability (LTD) and short-term disability insurers request IMEs when they question the validity, severity, or duration of a claimed disability. The IME physician reviews medical records and examines the claimant to form an independent opinion on functional capacity and work restrictions.
Employers may request an IME to determine whether an employee can safely perform the essential functions of their position after injury, illness, or a behavioral/performance concern with a possible medical component. This is distinct from a workers' comp IME — it is an employer-initiated evaluation governed by ADA and FMLA considerations.
Federal and state agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, use independent medical evaluations to assess disability claims. These examinations follow specific protocols depending on the program.
Individuals who disagree with their treating physician's diagnosis, treatment plan, or return-to-work recommendation may seek an independent evaluation for their own records, to share with their employer, or to support a legal claim.
For occupational and workplace-related IMEs, a physician board-certified in Occupational Medicine is the most appropriate specialist. Occupational medicine physicians are specifically trained to evaluate the relationship between work exposures, physical demands, and health outcomes. They understand causation analysis, AMA Guides impairment ratings, functional capacity interpretation, and Tennessee workers' compensation standards.
Dr. Olatunde Oso at Ogiso Health is board-certified in Preventive and Occupational Medicine, making him well-qualified to perform IMEs in workers' compensation, disability, and employer contexts throughout Tennessee.
Ogiso Health offers a comprehensive IME package at a flat fee of $2,500. This includes the records review, examination, and written report. The flat fee structure provides cost certainty for attorneys, employers, and insurance carriers. There are no surprise add-ons for standard IME components. Additional fees apply for deposition preparation and testimony.
Ogiso Health charges a flat fee for IME services. Payment is due from the requesting party (attorney, insurance carrier, employer, or individual) prior to or at the time of examination. We do not bill health insurance for IME services, as these are not treatment visits. Accepted payment methods include check, ACH transfer, and major credit cards.
To schedule an IME or discuss your case, contact Ogiso Health directly at 615-397-6243 or by email. Please provide a brief description of the case, the conditions to be evaluated, and the questions you need addressed. We will confirm scheduling, records submission requirements, and payment details. IME reports are typically completed within 10–14 business days of the examination.
Ogiso Health is located at 2700 Gallatin Pike, Suite D, Nashville, TN 37216, serving attorneys, employers, and insurers throughout Middle Tennessee and statewide.