Resources & Articles

From the AAEME Blog

Practical answers to the questions physicians actually ask about AMA Guides impairment ratings, WPI calculations, CIRS™ and NIRSAT™ certification, PPD determinations, and report defensibility. Written by Christine G. Caldwell, BSN, CIRS®, CLNC.

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6 articles · Impairment Rating Fundamentals & Defensibility
Defensibility & Documentation
What Are the Most Common Errors in Impairment Rating Reports?
Eight out of ten impairment rating reports contain errors. Here are the six most common, and how to avoid each one.
May 5, 20267 min read →
Impairment Rating Fundamentals
What Is Apportionment in an Impairment Rating?
Apportionment separates impairment from the current injury from pre-existing conditions. Getting it right is technically demanding. Getting it wrong is one of the most common report errors.
May 5, 20266 min read →
Impairment Rating Fundamentals
What Is the Difference Between an Impairment Rating and a PPD Rating?
An impairment rating is medical. A PPD rating is legal. Physicians produce the WPI; the state does the rest. Here's how the two relate.
May 5, 20265 min read →
Impairment Rating Fundamentals
What Is MMI, and When Does It Trigger an Impairment Rating?
Maximum Medical Improvement is the clinical threshold that triggers an impairment rating. Understanding MMI correctly is the first step to producing a defensible report.
May 5, 20265 min read →
Impairment Rating Fundamentals
What's the Difference Between Impairment and Disability?
Impairment is a medical finding. Disability is a legal determination. They are not the same, and confusing them can invalidate your report.
May 5, 20265 min read →
Impairment Rating Fundamentals
What Is WPI? Understanding Whole Person Impairment Ratings
WPI stands for Whole Person Impairment, a percentage that represents the extent to which an injury or illness reduces a person's overall functional capacity. Here's what it means and why it matters.
May 5, 20266 min read →
Christine G. Caldwell, BSN, CIRS®, CLNC
Founder of AAEME and creator of the CIRS® designation, NIRSAT™, and TIRSAT™. She has certified more than 4,000 physicians in AMA Guides impairment ratings and has testified before six state legislatures on workers' compensation and impairment rating standards. An independent review found that eight out of ten impairment rating reports contain errors. AAEME's certification programs exist to change that number.