The Best Practices for Mental and Behavioural Disorder IMEs

Dr Barry Gelinas, Dr Jenny Melamed, Dr Paul Farnan

Panel 12 – Occupational Health Stream – Building a Resilient Workforce: Integrating Assessment (IME), Monitoring, and Unlocking Peer Support

September 25th Day Three – Macleod Hall A & B South Building 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

The Best Practices for Mental and Behavioural Disorder IMEs

Dr Barry Gelinas

Session Description

With the growing burden of mental and behavioral disorders, the need for independent medical examinations (M&BD IMEs) is increasing. These are particularly relevant in safety-sensitive workers, and one main focus area is determining fitness to work. These assessments are conducted by a regulated health professional who is not the treating provider to furnish legal, administrative, and other claimant stakeholders with independent and unbiased medical opinions for decision-making and adjudication purposes. Best practices for M&BD IMEs have been published emphasizing greater objectivity in an otherwise subjective process by employing relevant psychological validity testing, conducting coherence analysis and using the most recent/current M&BD diagnostic nomenclature to formulate an opinion. This session will introduce best practice standards based on research funded by the Canadian Centre for Recovery Excellence. It is incumbent upon the evaluator to maintain a high degree of fidelity to best practices for M&BD IMEs, which is the focus of this session.

Learning Objectives

  • Skills in identifying the occupational indications for the M&BD IMEs and how they can be used in complicated occupational cases.
  • Appreciation of the role of the IME in supporting recovery-friendly workplace policy.
  • Knowledge of the foundational occupational concepts that apply.

References

  • Els, C., Gelinas, B., Straube, S. et al. Best Practices for the Mental and Behavioral Disorder Independent Medical Examination. SN Compr. Clin. Med. 7, 110 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-025-01882-8
  • Els C, Gelinas B, Kertay L, et al. Towards a national Canadian standard for psychiatric IMEs. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting, Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada (OEMAC). Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 2024.
  • Els C, Gelinas B, Carter RM, Kertay L. Best Practices for the Independent Medical Examination of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. AMA Guides® Newsletter. 2022;27(4):18-59.
  • Hegmann K, Stewart-Patterson C, Els C. Independent Medical Examinations and Consultations. ACOEM Guideline. MD Guidelines – Reed Group; 2018.
  • Brigham C, Direnfeld LK, Feinberg S, Kertay L, Talmage JB. Independent Medical Evaluation Best Practices. AMA Guides® Newsletter. 2017;22(5):3-18.

Bio

Barry J. Gelinas, MD, DC, is a Certified MedicoLegal Evaluator. He is an Advisor to the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment Editorial Panel, offering global insights into adopting and implementing the AMA Guides internationally. Dr. Gelinas has co-authored and published numerous papers with global key opinion leaders in occupational medicine. He is a past president of the International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators (IAIME). Dr. Gelinas performs comprehensive injury management evaluations, independent medical evaluations, impairment review and analysis, causation analysis, and records reviews.

Other Panel Members

Join us for the Alberta Recovery Summit, hosted by the 9th Annual Recovery Capital Conference taking place on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2025.

 Session Streams

  • Health Care and Recovery
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health and Safety

 Key Details

  • DAY ONE September 23rd – 5:30 pm 6:30: Early Badge Pick Up and Networking Reception, 6:30 pm to 8 pm Pre Conference Presentation
  • DAY TWO September 24th – 8:45 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions
  • DAY THREE September 25th – 9 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions

 Hotels

Book your hotel at one of our host hotels and save money. Click on the links for the discount rates and book early as rates will go up, and they always sell out.

Schedule

Speakers

Registration

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