by Christopher R. Brigham, MD
Chapter 1, Conceptual Foundations and Philosophy commences
with Section 1.1 - History of the Guides (6th ed., 1 -
2) describing a history of compensation for personal injury
and disability that dates to antiquity.
Section 1.2 - New Direction for the Sixth Edition (6th ed.,
3), presents previous criticisms of the Guides and five
new axioms of the Sixth Edition. The Five New Axioms of the
Sixth Edition are:
- The Guides adopts the terminology and conceptual
framework of disablement as put forward by the International
Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).
- The Guides becomes more diagnosis based with
these diagnoses being evidence-based when possible.
- Simplicity, ease-of-application, and following
precedent, where applicable, are given high priority, with
the goal of optimizing interrater and intrarater
reliability.
- Rating percentages derived according to the Guides are
functionally based, to the fullest practical extent
possible.
- The Guides stresses conceptual and methodological
congruity within and between organ system ratings.
The contemporary model of disablement adopted by the
Sixth Edition is the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), as explained in
Section 1.3 (6th ed., 3 - 6). The traditional model of
disablement previously relied upon, the International
Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps
(ICIDH) presented by the World Health Organization more than a
quarter century ago is characterized as a simplistic model
providing a unidirectional depiction of the relationship among
pathology, impairment, disability and handicap, without
recognizing the dynamic relationships among these factors nor
the role of important personal and environmental modifiers.
To learn more about the use of the Sixth Edition visit www.sixthedition.com
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Please Provide Feedback on the Sixth
Edition
We welcome your feedback on the new Sixth
Edition of the AMA
Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent
Impairment. If you have not yet provided input,
please
click here. We will provide complimentary access to
www.6thedition.com during the first week of July for all
respondents.
Thus far we have had 106 responses; 34% of the respondents
were physicians, 16% chiropractors, 12% plaintiff attorneys,
8% claims professionals, 7% defense attorneys and 23% others.
Thirty one percent are using the Sixth Edition, 44% are using
the Fifth Edition, and 25% are using other Editions.
Impairment ratings are judged as very important or important.
Most are inexperienced in the use of the Sixth Edition with
75% having performed or reviewed 9 or less ratings, however
the respondents are familiar with other Editions with 64%
having performed or reviewed 100 or more ratings by prior
Editions.
We would prefer to have more responses from individuals
familiar with the Sixth Edition prior to providing more
detailed analysis. Therefore, if you have not yet responded
please do so at this time. The survey will take less than
three minutes, you will be rewarded with access to our new
resource site, and the information will be very useful to all
stakeholders. Please
click here to complete the survey.
Read the article to the right to learn about the
responses thus far. Thanks in advance for your
participation.
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Mastering the New 6th Edition
ACOEM Seminar on
July 12 and 13 in Chicago
On July 12 and 13, 2008 in Chicago, the American
College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is offering
a two day seminar on the Sixth Edition. Christopher Brigham MD
and Craig Uejo, MD, MPH are the course directors. This
learning experience is the ideal next step for individuals who
have had introductory training on the Guides and also
for those who are new to the Sixth Edition. Click
here for further information.
