Automobile Accidents

Initial Stages
The process in the beginning is much the same for these cases and others like them as it is for workers compensation whereby the patient will fill out all proper paper work, sign Medical/ Attorney Liens and other necessary paper work, and then get taken back to be examined, complete history taken of the incident and then x-rays. The patient will be given a complete report of findings of their x-rays and s-EMG and Thermoscan readings and explained in detail as to what is happening with them and what we believe will help them as far as treatment is concerned.

Treatment
They will be given an estimated treatment time or how much treatment we predict they will need to be alleviated from their discomfort or to cure and relieve them from the injuries they suffered. This treatment will usually always be 2-3 times per week for a period from 4-6 weeks up to 12-16 weeks depending on the severity of injury. Our goal in all treatment is to bring the patient as close to pre-injury status as possible, but understand that with any injury, even minor whiplash injuries, the patient will have most likely some permanent residuals that will be covered in the final conclusions of the final report. And so the patient will not treat for a long period of time, but a sufficient amount of time that will or should be enough to not only alleviate their pain, but perhaps allow the rest of their healing process to occur correctly whereby the spinal segments and the ligamentous structure in and around the spine that perhaps were damaged in the accident, will not heal wrongly creating abnormal long term skeletal biomechanics. In other words, our treatment will help prevent the patient from long term chronic pain, headaches, muscle spasm, even early degenerative spinal changes. In most cases, usually six to eight weeks of aggressive treatment, if done correctly as with our Institute, will be what the patient needs, without prolonging unnecessary and expensive treatment.

MD / Testing Referral
As with any case, this patient will be referred out but only on an as needed basis. We understand that there are policy limits with automobile accidents and will always weigh the circumstances when it comes time for an MD Ortho or Neuro evaluation, or MRI/ CT scan, etc… but we will never compromise the patient’s health and well being and not get the appropriate testing or Medical referral that is needed if the patient is in need of such care. This will only help the patient and strengthen the case, but there are often times where clinics will do this unnecessarily creating major financial hassles for the Law office and the client come time for settlements.

We communicate with your Law office on every case and will be sure to weigh each circumstance and investigate all insurance sources prior that allow us the proper MD or Testing center for that patient’s needs or circumstance.

Final Report
t the end of this patients care, we will of course write a somewhat lengthy report putting in all our examination findings, history of injury and concluding comments. You will not, in most cases, receive any other report from us until such time, we have completed our care with your client.

The most important thing we place in this report is the patients’ ending status and whether or not they are in need of future medical care; where the patient is medically and if there is permanent residuals from the injuries. We utilize AMA standards for examination, testing, etc… however, since the laws are different in the State of Illinois than other States, we do not write “Permanent Disability AMA Reports” as shown in the Fifth Edition, we only present our findings as such, with our comments and leave the final awards and settlements up to the Attorneys based on probable other evidence based information that may be needed or necessary for them to capture the proper award for the client. We will not compromise this by minimizing the injuries through certain national guidelines that perhaps disallow a much greater settlement potential for the patient. It is not fair to the patient, and we feel the State of Illinois is right on in achieving this allowance for the Legal Experts and not, in a lot of cases, BIASED PHYSICIANS! This holds true with our Workers Compensation cases too!

Conclusion
**( As with any new clinic, there are always concerns of the Law office like, ”Does this Dr’s office know what they are doing?” We do! We have been doing this a long time and know how to achieve the end result for the patient, most importantly, as well as the proper paper work for the Law Office so you can do your job. Like with any case, document the injury, either through AMA Guideline examination techniques, testing stratagems, or by third party MD/ DC referrals, and your case will hold merit in court, in front of jurors, or in front of opposing legal council and/or questioning and untrusting insurance companies.)

Other
We also work with special cases such as Bus or Train Accident Victims, Slip and Falls, Motorcycle and Pedestrian Injuries and so on. They are much treated just like an Auto Injury with the same paper work initial and final report, Medical/ Attorney Liens, etc… The key is documenting the injury, treat the patient and get them well, initial report with proposed medical cost values and prognosis to open the claim, as well as final impairment rating report with concluding comments, future medical issues, % impairment rating and final bill.