ABSTRACT
It is important that a disability report be accurate and clear, answering all the specific questions asked. The practitioner does not make the determination as to whether a patient is entitled to benefits. This task is usually entrusted to an administrative agency that re views the report and makes a decision regarding the benefits a patient is entitled to receive. The disability report should be tailored to the compensation program the patient is applying for, since requirements vary. Most reports contain the following key components: a sum mary of the patient’s relevant symptoms, physical findings, and medical problem(s); the “ objective data,” such as results of pulmonary function testing; and an assessment of the patient’s impairment and/or disability (in response to what is specifically requested). It is best to provide the specific findings and criteria used, such as the AMA Guides to the Evaluation o f Permanent Impairment. Workmen’s compensation evaluations must address whether the patient’s problem is caused or aggravated by the workplace. Reports should always address the specific questions being asked. It should be remembered that the person reviewing the report is frequently a nonphysician; the report should be written so that it can be understood by a nonmedical professional.
