{"id":5097,"date":"2020-12-15T09:52:08","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T13:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/?p=5097"},"modified":"2020-12-16T09:52:15","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T13:52:15","slug":"what-is-maximum-medical-improvement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/what-is-maximum-medical-improvement\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Maximum Medical Improvement?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019ve been hurt at work, there comes a time when continuing to treat with your doctors doesn\u2019t improve your medical condition. When additional medical treatments won\u2019t improve your medical condition and the healing process is stopped – you\u2019ve reached the point of <\/span>Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This does not mean that you no longer require medical treatment such as pain management. It just means that according to the opinions of your doctors, you are unlikely to improve your permanent outlook with additional treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workers have the right to get medical treatment for any injuries they suffer due to a workplace accident. Most workers start with a visit to an emergency room doctor or they see a physician designated by the workers compensation insurance company, or in some cases, their personal physician. Depending on the type of injury and the severity of the injury, injured workers may need surgery. They often need to see a specialist; maybe several specialists to address their work injuries.\u00a0 Injured employees often treat with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and\/or rehabilitation therapists. Some workers also need to see a psychologist and\/or psychiatrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employees who are injured at work who suffer a compensable claim have every right to try to maximize their health and minimize the consequences of their injury at work. During the time they are working to improve their health, they are entitled to have the insurance company for the employer pay their medical bills and generally, 2\/3rds of their average weekly wages for the time their authorized physician holds them out of work or for a maximum of up to 500 weeks.\u00a0 Some injuries completely heal with time \u2013 such as many minor fractures. Other injuries never completely heal and may require the insertion of hardware or other drastic methods of repair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maximum medical improvement is an important milestone in an injured worker\u2019s case for a number of reasons:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It enables your doctor to refer you for a Functional Capacity Examination to determine whether you have any permanent, physical restrictions due to your injuries;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. It enables your doctor to refer you for a Functional Capacity Examination to determine whether you have any permanent partial impairment in any specific body parts you may have injured in your accident;<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. It is generally a signal to all parties that a potential settlement may be on the horizon;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. It is generally a signal to the defense that they may want to engage you in a program of vocational rehabilitation after the results of your FCE come in.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    MMI evaluations<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

    When workers reach MMI, several evaluations need to take place.<\/span><\/p>\n