QME Case Consultation
The QME evaluation and report writing process can be intensive, complicated and time consuming. Producing a QME report which constitutes substantial medical evidence requires the QME to address a wide range of medical-legal issues related to proving or disapproving each aspect of a claim. It is common for QME reports to be challenged by attorneys representing the applicant and the employer, regarding evaluation methodology, data accuracy, and validity of each medical-legal opinion offered in a QME report.
To manage this task effectively, Atrium provides its QMEs the opportunity to have each of their reports reviewed by a highly experienced psychological QME. This review includes an individual consultation on the medical-legal issues of the case, to ensure clarity, consistency, and compliance with current Workers Compensation standards. The time spent in case consultation is intended to improve the quality of your QME reporting.
Finally, Atrium provides twice-monthly QME seminars, led by an experienced expert in the field of psychological QME's. Seminars offer both a general, didactic presentation of issues involved in psychological QME evaluations, and a case presentation by a group member. The case presentation provides an opportunity for members to apply their understanding of medical-legal principles to novel medical-legal scenarios, and to hear the perspectives of the seminar leader, as well as fellow QME's, who may range from beginners to highly experienced evaluators.
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DR. MATTHEW RYAN
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Over the past 30 years, Dr. Matthew Ryan has served the Workers’ Compensation community as an agreed medical examiner, a qualified medical examiner and as an expert in psychological trauma. He is known for his ability to provide thorough and objective clinical evaluations.
Serving as an expert witness, Dr. Ryan has handled numerous civil and criminal cases involving acute adult traumatic incidents and employment-related issues. He has trained professional therapists in post-traumatic stress treatment through organizations such as the California State Psychological Association and Charter Hospitals.
Dr. Ryan authored the chapter on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the textbook, “Mental and Emotional Injuries in Employment Litigation” (McDonald and Kulick, 1991).
Numerous major corporations and public agencies, such as the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Lockheed, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Community College District have retained Dr. Ryan to consult on fitness for duty and long-term disability cases. Dr. Ryan has led trauma debriefings and on-site counseling services for numerous major corporations and agencies. Additionally, he trained and supervised the Barrington Psychiatric Center’s Assessment and Psychotherapy professional staff from 1995-2017.
Dr. Ryan obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical/Counseling psychology from the University of Southern California (USC) and did his post-graduate training in psychosomatic illnesses at the California Graduate Institute. He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from USC.