About Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) Services
Equitas Orthopedic Opinions provides independent medical evaluations performed by a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, with an emphasis on objective, evidence-based medicolegal analysis.
The medicolegal evaluation of injury claims – whether arising under Worker's Compensation, Longshore, Federal, or other jurisdictional framework's – requires careful navigation of both medical and legal considerations. A thorough IME must account for all relevant medical records and legal documentation, supplemented when appropriate by direct examination of the individual.
At Equitas, each evaluation is approached with careful attention to detail, medical probability, and consistency with established orthopedic literature. Opinions are formed through comprehensive review and analysis of the available evidence, with the goal of providing clear, well-reasoned orthopedic conclusions that are fair, partial, and clinically grounded.
More About Equitas
Equitas Orthopedic Opinions was established to provide clear, objective orthopedic evaluations in an increasingly complex medicolegal environment. The name Equitas reflects the practice’s guiding principle: equal consideration of all relevant medical facts, regardless of referral source or legal position.
Founded by Dr. Ron Bowman, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than three decades of clinical experience, Equitas is informed by a career spanning surgical practice, occupational medicine, and Workers’ Compensation policy. This background revealed a growing need for independent orthopedic opinions that are thorough, unbiased, and clearly communicated.
Each case is evaluated individually through careful record review, attention to injury mechanism and clinical course, and adherence to established orthopedic evidence. Conclusions are based on medical probability and literature - not advocacy.
Equitas serves insurers, employers, attorneys, and individuals across multiple jurisdictions, maintaining a consistent approach grounded in objectivity, professional integrity, and respect for the medicolegal process.
List of Services
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Independent orthopedic medical evaluations (IME)
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Comprehensive medical record review and analysis
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Causation and apportionment opinions
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Evaluation of pre-existing and combined conditions
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Determination of medical necessity and treatment appropriateness
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Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) assessments
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Permanent impairment and work capacity evaluations
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Objective physical examination correlated with records and imaging
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Evidence-based orthopedic opinions supported by current medical literature
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Deposition and trial/arbitration testimony.