Central Seattle Panel of Consultants, Inc., is a for profit corporation and they are not a medical group or organization and therefore they have previously been exempt from any and all Washington State regulations or licensing
requirements from the Department of Health.
They claim to have been active in business since 1978. As they are involved exclusively with injured workers, claimants and involved in advertising their medical services and consultations, you would think that they would be regulated.
They only have a business license and are on file with the secretary of state.
The only corporate officer and listed owner is Irene M. Suver. She does not have a medical background or formal education, although some of her family members were and or are medical physicians. Her educational background is in theatre, acting, film, casting, play writing and directing.
This medical consulting company advertises and state they provide medical evaluations, second opinion medical examinations, medical-legal consultations, vocational, functional testing, peer review to evidence-based "blue ribbon panels", where she states they are leaders in fairness, quality and integrity.
There has been some concern that in order to make this very small office appear to be a larger medical corporation, that the same person may be using different names as if there is a larger staff and the same for their answering machine.
They accept and handle cases from all over the United States and overseas for Insurance and casualty providers, such as Aig / CNA Insurance companies, legal professionals and third party administrators, and State of Washington Labor
& Industry claims.
Irene Suver states that their reports from simple to complex meet the highest standards in the field.
On the internet under Linked they are listed as a medical practice and on their website; www.panelofconsultants.com
they claim they are the oldest medically managed panel in Washington.
Irene Suver on her web site claims their medical and clerical services as well as stating our physicians gives a concern to those that she is a medical organization.
The website make claims which are misleading, such as their integrity and meticulous work, that examinees are not required to fill out pages and pages of questionnaires to substitute for history of the injury.
The truth is that they will require all your medical information and records, your personal information, social security number, number of marriages, information on your children, your health information and more which is more extensive than any Medical Office. This information you voluntarily provided, now becomes her property.instead of being called a questionaire, you will complete lengthy registration forms.
If you are assigned for any exam here... Refuse and certainly do not provide any information.insist on the IME at the Doctor's personal office and not this non provider of medical services.
This company does not have any reputation as the work product is dependent on the medical provider they select to perform the exam. The medical provider is alone responsible for the report.
They also deny a claimant the right to bring in a nurse legal consultant, audio or to video tape their medical exams, when in fact exams of long shore, federal and other states allow for such medical documentation in exams and in court.
The concern in regards to this medical consulting company, is that unknowing claimants and examinees are sent to their medical office at 1001 Broadway, Suite 300 in Seattle Washington under the impression that this is a medical
organization that is providing a medical exam on their injuries and or claim.
The claimants and examinees are required to provide extensive amounts of personal, medical information, lifetime job history, duties, vocation, prior medical records, etc. Assuming this information is now held and retained by a medical provider when in fact this information is now the property of a for profit corporation that does not have to meet the same standards as a medical care facility or organization.
Reports, medical or personal information are not subject to any state regulations or safequards and should there be a future dissolution of this company of the sole officer at such point, it is not subject to any requirements for disposal of personal or medical information.
In fact although the company list hippa laws, they are not subject to the same standard requirements as they are not a medical or health care provider and are not regulated or licensed in any manner or jurisdiction.
Therefore it would be assumed that any person may file articles of incorporation and be a medical consultant and advertise as such, may outsource their doctors to examine injured workers or claimants.
As these medical exams are called independent medical exams, they are in reality called defense medical exams which are used by insurance companies, to deny claims filed by injured workers.
One of their methods may be to have an examination by a medical doctor that is not qualified in that particular area of injury and therefore obtain a medical opinion based against the claimant or examinee which denies them their claim at that time or lowers the rating.
If you are a claimant with the Department of Labor & Industries or an insurance company or have an exam scheduled for a so called Independent medical Exam, do not provide your medical information, personal history or medical records to this "for profit Corporation."
You can refuse an exam with this non provider and non medical group and insist an exam directly with a Doctor's office that will be held accountable for your medical exam and records. Also never attend one of these exams alone. Bring an educated observer that will only quietly watch, but will write down what the Doctor is doing and the amount of time to examine you.
Beware of any non medical group or persons stating in their web sites that they are different and are unbiased and then are offering classes on line on how to lower your injury rating scores.
Beware of anyone including Irene Suver, that is without any medical license or medical training and a woman in her 50's, offering online training and online class by her medical consulting company providing a class in Hidden A$ets: How to proof and Challenge Upper Extremity Ratings. Washington Self-Insurers Association (www.wsiassn.org/public/advancedWebinar).
This would almost give someone the impression that her medical consulting company that states on her website is unbiased etc. And fair as having a hidden agenda of lowering a claimants or examinees injury ratings.
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