While a defense medical exam may be second nature to an attorney, clients are often in the dark about the DME process. And not fully understanding all the aspects of an exam could be detrimental to the client’s case. That said, there are three important questions that should always be asked of clients prior to a DME:
“Do You Know Where Your Exam is Being Held?”
While this may seem like a simple question, in reality, it can be a loaded one. When most people go to their doctor, it’s typically close to where they live or work. Many clients would not consider that the defense medical exam could be up to 70 miles away from where they live! That information is critical for the client to be able to plan for their exam. They may need to:
- schedule child care
- request time off of work
- reschedule other appointments
All of these things could spell disaster for the case if the client hasn’t accounted for them ahead of time.
“How Will You Get to the DME?”
Similar to knowing where the exam is taking place, planning for transportation is a key element as well. Again, distance can play a huge role in this factor. But also accounting for the time of day, traffic, and quality of transportation is critical. A client may assume that they can simply take the bus to their exam. But if they are traveling during a high traffic time, that could grossly affect the amount of travel time. Therefore discussing all of the details of how a client is getting to their exam is imperative.
“Are You Fluent ?”
Even if a client speaks English, it is vital to know if they are fluent. While everyday words and phrases may be old hat, body awareness and descriptions may not be. It’s important for clients to know that if for any reason they are not 100% comfortable describing their injury and answering questions, they should request an interpreter.
Nutris Consulting Can Help
Preparing clients for a successful Defense Medical Exam is a standard when working with a Nutris nurse. Nutris Consulting’s legal nurse consultants provide support services for our clients by creating not only peace of mind during Defense Medical Exams, but also by saving our clients valuable time. When our legal nurse consultants are scheduled to attend a client’s DME, they begin the important process of protecting the patient’s case through advocacy – all while the attorney is able to attend to other matters, creating ultimate efficiency for each case. Our nurses take great care to educate clients on the DME process to ensure a smooth exam. Ready to get scheduled? Visit our contact page or call us at 661-362-8333 7 days a week.
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