Software AMA Guides 6th edition Impairment rating John Hopkins MD PhD Disability Technology Inc

AMA Guides 6th edition/Disability Technology Inc John Hopkins, MD,phD

New AMA Guides 6^th edition

Disability Technology Inc is a medical software company specializes in   disability software

According to the AMA, the new AMA Guides 6^th edition has the new features:

·       Adopt the terminology, definitions and conceptual framework of disablement put forward by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO, 2001) in place of the current and antiquated ICIDH terminology (WHO, 1980)

·       Become more evidence-based

·       Wherever/whenever evidence-based criteria are lacking, give highest priority to simplicity and ease of application

·       Stress conceptual and methodological congruity within and between organ system ratings

·       Provide rating percentages that are functionally-based whenever possible.

·       Provides a comprehensive, valid, reliable, unbiased, and evidence-based rating system

·       Has internal consistency in approach across

            chapters and body systems

·       Incorporates principles consistent with clinical care (such as the premise that treatment – including surgery – should improve function)

·       – Has demonstrated improved inter-rater reliability

 

For any question, please contact Disability Technology Inc at 972-716-9595 or hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net. www.disabilitytec.com.

Software AMA Guides 6th edition Impairment rating

Disability Technology Inc

www.disabilitytec.com

John Hopkins,MD,PhD

Disability Technology is a maker of AMA Guides 6th edition software

tel:214-755-5726

hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net

 

According to AMA:

 

The Purposes of the AMA Guides

 

 

 

The Preface to the initial edition of the AMA Guides (1971) established a

 

clear distinction between permanent impairment – “a purely medical condition”  and permanent disability – “when [a patient’s] actual or presumed ability to engage in gainful activity is reduced or absent because of ‘impairment’ which, in turn, may or may not be combined with other factors.”

 

This distinction -- between impairment and work disability -- and the stated purpose of the publication -- to provide a system for rating impairments  have been maintained through all six editions of the AMA Guides.

 

 

 

There is, however, another purpose of the AMA Guides, namely to provide a rating that is a crucial determinant of the cash benefits provided in workers’ compensation programs.4 This is clearly articulated in the Sixth Edition of the AMA Guides (2008, p. 20):

 

There is increased use of the Guides to translate objective clinical

 

findings into a percentage of the whole person. Typically, this

 

number is used to measure the residual deficit, a loss – a number

 

that is then converted into a monetary award to the injured

 

party. This scheme is most commonly used in various workers’

 

compensation systems in the United States and abroad.

 

software AMA Guides 6th edition for Impairment rating

AMA Guides to the evaluation of Impairment rating 6th edition

AMA Guides 6^th edition software

Disability Technology Inc

www.disabilitytec.com

972-716-9595

hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net

 

According to AMA:

 

AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment is used in workers' compensation systems, federal systems, automobile casualty and personal injury cases to rate impairment.

 

The Standard in Impairment Evaluation

Standardized methodology is applied to each chapter of Guides Sixth to enhance the relevancy of impairment ratings, improve internal consistency and promote ease of application to the rating process. This ordered method enables proficiency with ratings for multiple organ systems.

The Guides Sixth applies terminology and an analytical framework based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) from the World Health Organization to generate five impairment classes that permit the rating of the patient from no impairment to most severe.

Understand Differences Between Impairment and Disability

AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment clarifies the critical difference between medical impairment and disability, as diagnosis affects treatment and how a patient is viewed by a state's workers' compensation system.

Impairment is a significant deviation, loss, or loss of use of any body structure or body function in an individual with a health condition, disorder or disease.

Disability is activity limitations and/or participation restrictions in an individual with a health condition, disorder or disease.

With AMA Guides Sixth, physicians can measure the extent of impairment as related to normal functional capacity.

AMA Guides to the evaluation of Impairment rating 6th edition

AMA Guides 6^th edition software

Disability Technology Inc

www.disabilitytec.com

972-716-9595

hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net

 

According to AMA:

 

AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment is used in workers' compensation systems, federal systems, automobile casualty and personal injury cases to rate impairment.

 

The Standard in Impairment Evaluation

Standardized methodology is applied to each chapter of Guides Sixth to enhance the relevancy of impairment ratings, improve internal consistency and promote ease of application to the rating process. This ordered method enables proficiency with ratings for multiple organ systems.

The Guides Sixth applies terminology and an analytical framework based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) from the World Health Organization to generate five impairment classes that permit the rating of the patient from no impairment to most severe.

Understand Differences Between Impairment and Disability

AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment clarifies the critical difference between medical impairment and disability, as diagnosis affects treatment and how a patient is viewed by a state's workers' compensation system.

Impairment is a significant deviation, loss, or loss of use of any body structure or body function in an individual with a health condition, disorder or disease.

Disability is activity limitations and/or participation restrictions in an individual with a health condition, disorder or disease.

With AMA Guides Sixth, physicians can measure the extent of impairment as related to normal functional capacity.

 

Software AMA Guides 6th edition

Disability Technology Inc

www.disabilitytec.com

Disability Technology is a maker of AMA Guides 6th edition software

tel:214-755-5726

hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net

 

According to AMA:

 

The Purposes of the AMA Guides

 

The Preface to the initial edition of the AMA Guides (1971) established a

clear distinction between permanent impairment – “a purely medical condition”  and permanent disability – “when [a patient’s] actual or presumed ability to engage in gainful activity is reduced or absent because of ‘impairment’ which, in turn, may or may not be combined with other factors.”

This distinction -- between impairment and work disability -- and the stated purpose of the publication -- to provide a system for rating impairments  have been maintained through all six editions of the AMA Guides.

 

There is, however, another purpose of the AMA Guides, namely to provide a rating that is a crucial determinant of the cash benefits provided in workers’ compensation programs.4 This is clearly articulated in the Sixth Edition of the AMA Guides (2008, p. 20):

There is increased use of the Guides to translate objective clinical

findings into a percentage of the whole person. Typically, this

number is used to measure the residual deficit, a loss – a number

that is then converted into a monetary award to the injured

party. This scheme is most commonly used in various workers’

compensation systems in the United States and abroad.

Software AMA Guides Six/6th edition disability technology Inc

 

Disability Technology Inc is a maker of AMA Guides 6th edition.

for any question : www.disabilitytec.com

hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net

972-716-9595

 

According to AMA:

 

Medical impairment: Anatomical loss

 

 The AMA Guides provide impairment ratings for certain medical conditions based on the anatomical loss. For example, Table 16-16 at page 542 of the AMA Guides indicates that amputation of the leg above the knee at the mid-thigh is rated at 90 percent of the loss of the leg unless there are proximal problems that increase the rating. Table 16-1 at page 495 indicates that a 90 percent impairment rating of the lower extremity is equivalent to a 36 percent impairment rating for the whole person.

 

Medical impairment: Functional loss

 

The AMA Guides provides impairment ratings for certain medical conditions based on the extent of the functional loss. Example 15-25 at pages 477-48 explains how to determine the rating for a person who sustained significant shoulder motion deficits related to her constant overhead work. Her condition warranted an 18 percent impairment rating for the upper extremity and an 11 percent impairment rating for the whole person.

Software AMA Guides 6th edition

Disability Technology Inc: is a maker of software for AMA Guides 6^th edition Guides.

 

For any question, please contact: www.disabilitytec.com

Or hopkinsjh@sbcglobal.net, Tel: 214-755-5726

According to AMA:

 

The steps involved in determining an impairment rating percentage are:

 

1) Determine the impairment class based usually on the diagnosis. Each class lists 5 potential numbers for the impairment. Tentatively assume the middle number (or default value) will be the impairment percentage.

 

2. Determine the severity of the residual symptoms by asking the patient about symptoms and difficulties functioning, with or without the additional input of a questionnaire the patient fills out describing symptoms and problems, and then compare this to a table of “Functional History Adjustment” severity.

 

3. Determine the severity of the abnormalities on physical examination and compare this to a table for “Physical Examination Adjustment”.

 

4. Determine the severity of the x-ray, MRI, bone scan, Myelogram, and/or electrodiagnostic findings, and compare this to a table of “Clinical Studies”.

5. Use the Functional History, Physical Exam, and Clinical Studies Adjustment tables to derive factors (numbers) that will, by simple math, move the physician either to select the default impairment value (from step 1 above), or to select a higher or lower impairment percentage from the 5 numbers listed for the class.