# Reports written to be read in court > We arrange Independent Medical Examinations, Medical File Reviews, and rebuttal opinions for plaintiff and defence files. Examiners attend to speak to their reports where the file needs it, and a named reviewer signs off every report before release. Source: https://imecore.com/for/law-firms ## The report is only as strong as the record behind it Opposing counsel asks what the examiner saw and when. You have a PDF bundle, an email chain, and a courier receipt. Rebuilding the chain takes a paralegal a day, and the answer is still approximate. - You cannot show what records the examiner actually had. - The chronology is rebuilt by hand for every file. - Exhibit numbering drifts between the bundle and the report. - A missing consent turns up at the worst moment. - The report answers around the question you asked. ## What IMECore does about it ### A record set you can prove We collect each document with its source and date, and record when the examiner received it. Export the list as an exhibit index. ### A chronology to check, not to build The timeline is drafted from the records with dates and providers. You correct it rather than write it. ### Your questions, answered in order Your instructing questions sit on the file. A named reviewer confirms each has an answer before release. ### Rebuttal on the same record set A rebuttal opinion or Medical File Review opens against the original records, with the same sources and dates both sides can see. ### Examiners who attend Confirm when you refer and the acknowledgement states whether the examiner is available to testify. Every report is written so it can be spoken to. ### Consent and privilege held apart The consent form and its date sit on the file, while instructing letters and privileged material sit in a class the examiner never sees. ## Numbers worth knowing | Figure | What it measures | Source | |---|---|---| | $3,000–$6,000 | Typical BC specialist IME cost | lawyerinfo.ca, BC WCAT guide | | $2,165 | Doctors of BC recommended fee for a medico-legal opinion report | Doctors of BC uninsured services guide, 2024 | | 6% | Cap on recoverable disbursements in many BC vehicle-injury actions | BC Reg 210/2020 | ## Questions people ask ### How do I refer a case? Send the referral at /refer with the examinee details, or use the referral link your IMECore contact gave you. Staff review every referral before anything is booked, then confirm the plan in the referral acknowledgement. ### What do you need with a referral? The referral letter with your questions, the claim or file number, the deadline, the examinee's contact details, and the records you already hold or where to request them. Missing pieces do not stop the referral. The acknowledgement lists what is still outstanding. ### Can we name our own examiner? Yes. Name the examiner on the referral and we book them where their availability allows, or we match one to your questions and confirm the choice in the acknowledgement. ### Do you provide rebuttal opinions? Yes. A rebuttal opinion or Medical File Review opens on the same record set as the original report, so the reviewer works from the same sources and dates. ### How long until the report? In British Columbia the report often takes 4 to 8 weeks after the examination (lawyerinfo.ca, BC WCAT guide). Complex files and large record volumes add time. The referral acknowledgement confirms the expected date for your file. ### Can I ask for a rush? Yes. Say so when you refer and give the date the report is needed. The acknowledgement confirms whether that date is possible and what it depends on. ### Which assessments do you offer? Independent Medical Examination (IME), Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE; Functional Abilities Evaluation or FAE in Ontario), Medical File Review, Insurer Examination, Catastrophic Impairment Assessment, Attendant Care Needs Assessment, Physical Demands Analysis, Job Site Assessment, Psychological Assessment, Psychiatric Assessment, Neuropsychological Assessment, Psycho-Vocational Assessment, Future Care Cost Assessment, Ergonomic Assessment, and Virtual Assessment. ### Which specialties do you work with? Orthopaedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, and psychology, matched to the referral question. Tell us what the file needs and the acknowledgement confirms the specialty. ### Where do you operate? Across Canada, in person and by video. Virtual assessments cover files where an in-person examination is not needed or not possible. ### How is privilege handled? File access follows the role. Instructing letters and privileged material sit in a separate class that the examiner never sees. ### What if we need an addendum? We open an addendum on the same file. It inherits the record set and links back to the original report. ### Do you arrange interpreters, transport, and chaperones? Yes. Tell us when you refer so they are booked before the appointment. Interpreters and chaperones are arranged for the examination, and travel needs are coordinated with the examinee. ### Will the examiner testify if the file goes to hearing? Ask when you refer. The acknowledgement confirms whether the examiner assigned to your file is available for testimony. ### How is the report delivered? The report is released to the referrer through the client portal, section by section, with notice when it is ready. Nothing goes by email attachment. ### How is the fee built? Per assessment, confirmed in writing in the referral acknowledgement before anything is booked. The figure depends on the assessment type and the specialty. Write to us for a quote on your file. ### What is your cancellation policy? A cancellation policy applies to late changes, and the acknowledgement states the terms for your file. Contact the coordinator as early as you can to move a date.