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Thomas Health Systems Physician Partners Orthoclinic
THOMAS Health System

Medical Legal Evaluations/IMEs

Drs. David Soulsby and Bruce Haupt are orthopedic surgeons who practice at Thomas Memorial Hospital.  They provide medico-legal service to the medical and legal communities for select cases.  Our medico-legal services are provided in accordance with high standards and strict principles related to orthopedics.  We take pride in offering comprehensive and unbiased reporting.  Our opinions are limited to claims concerning the musculo-skeletal system and Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. David Soulsby has over 30 years of experience providing Medico-Legal Opinions and Independent Medical Evaluations.  Dr. Haupt, a Certified Independent Medical Examiner, has 22 years of experience offering Medico-Legal Opinions and Independent Medical Evaluations.

Drs. Soulsby and Haupt have experience writing opinions for State and Federal Worker's Compensation claims and also for attorneys.  They work with attorneys representing both plaintiffs and defendants.  Providing impairment ratings is a routine part of this process, and our doctors are proficient with rating impairment utilizing the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment - 4th, 5th, and 6th Editions (AMA). 

Evaluations can be obtained upon written request.  If we can be of assistance, please feel free to contact our office for scheduling and further information.

  • Independent Medical Evaluation (IME): An examination performed by a physician who is not involved in the diagnosis and treatment of an individual. There is no doctor/patient relationship. IME represent a valuable mechanism for determining impairment and/or disability.

  • Chart Review: An examination of medical records to certify that services rendered are coded and billed accurately and the treatment provided is appropriate for the diagnosis.  Record reviews are often requested by attorneys to clarify concerns about a claim.

  • Disability Evaluations
    The World Health Organization (WHO) defines disability as an activity limitation that creates a difficulty in the performance, accomplishment, or completion of an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. Disability can be temporary or permanent.  Disability evaluations determine disability ratings by evaluating medical descriptions of physical and mental impairment.

  • Impairment Rating
    The World Health Organization (WHO) defines impairment as “any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function”. Impairment ratings are calculated utilizing specific guideline to determine what percentage of function has been lost due to an injury/condition.