"What happens at the QME?"

The appointment itself

History. How the injury happened, your prior medical history, prior injuries, and your work history. Expect the same questions more than once, in different orders.

Current complaints. Every body part. Every symptom. What makes it better and worse.

Activities of daily living. Do not skip past this — several impairment methods are driven entirely by ADL loss, and the evaluator writes down what you tell them.

Physical examination. Range of motion, strength, sensation, and provocative tests.

Records review. The evaluator reviews what was sent — which is why what gets sent matters as much as what happens in the room.

Then the report, addressing causation, permanent impairment, apportionment, work restrictions, and future medical care.

What to bring

A written list of every body part and every symptom. Do not rely on remembering under pressure. A body part you do not mention is a body part that will not be in the report. More.

A written list of what you cannot do at home — not just at work. Dressing, bathing, cooking, sleeping, driving, lifting a child, opening jars, using stairs.

Your medication list.

Any imaging or records you have that may not have been sent.

And a certified interpreter if you need one — at the employer's expense. Never a family member. An inaccurate history in this report follows you through the whole case. Your interpreter rights.

How to describe your condition

Accurately. In both directions.

Do not minimize. "I'm fine" and "it's not that bad" are reflexes, and they end up in the report as findings.

Do not exaggerate either. Every evaluator watches for it, and losing credibility costs more than any single finding gains.

Describe the fluctuation, because most injuries fluctuate. "On a good day I can do X, and then I'm down for the rest of the day." That is truthful, it is what the evaluator actually needs in order to rate you, and it is surveillance-proof. More on surveillance.

And be specific about frequency and duration. "I can stand for about twenty minutes before I have to sit" is a usable finding. "Standing hurts" is not.

Practical notes

Arrive early. A missed panel appointment creates real problems.

Assume you are observed from the parking lot forward. Behave the same way throughout — which is easy if you have been accurate.

Take the mileage. For an employer-requested examination, § 4600(e) entitles you to transportation, meals, and lodging as reasonably required, plus a day of temporary disability for wages lost — and the mileage is supposed to be paid when you are notified of the appointment, not afterward. The current rate is 76 cents per mile for travel on or after July 1, 2026. More.

And read the report when it comes. What to check.