Disability
Technology Inc: is the maker of AMA Guides 6th edition software
According to AMA:
Overall, the 6th
Edition appears to be a major step forward
in impairment
ratings. The conceptual framework
of the rating matches the common
medical examination model, making
this edition easier for treating physicians
to grasp. The lack of ability to
change ratings drastically from the
middle number of most classes will
allow insurers to predict reserves more
easily based on the patient’s
diagnosis. Unfortunately, the system was not
tested on a full spectrum of cases
in workers’ compensation systems. Thus,
there may remain areas where it is
difficult for physicians to identify the
diagnosis, and these areas will
require minor corrections over time. The
system is still not directly tied
to functional assessment tool results from
treatment, and changes in this
area may improve its validity in the future.
The AMA Guides
to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment will continue to
evolve overtime; however the 6th
Edition has accomplished a much needed
fundamental change.
