Cover letter outline suggestions
Providing a clear, concise cover letter is key to getting a report that addresses the issues and questions you want clarified and answered.
Below, we have provided an outline for a comprehensive cover letter. Please feel free to adapt it to your own style and format. However, we have found that the elements listed here are essential pieces of information that help our consultants generate reports that are in turn, clear, concise, and comprehensive.
Headings
Claimant's name
Claim number
Date of injury
Claimant's address and phone number
Introduction
Date of evaluation
Type of disability system or casualty claim
Purpose of evaluation—2nd opinion, rating and closure, re-opening, to establish baseline status of injury
Summary of medical history and claim activity
Include a brief summary of medical history (the consultant will get this from the medical record)
Indicate accepted injuries
Note if there is medical information that is unavailable
Note information about work and claim activity (i.e. attempted return-to-work dates, claim closure or re-open dates)
Clearly separate multiple claims
Questions to be addressed by the consultant
Make questions as specific as possible to the claim in question
Try to avoid restating the same question in a different manner
Number the questions so they may be referenced in the body of the report
Special instructions/needs
Request(s) for expedited report(s)
Interpreter
Request for a phone conference after the IME
Pre-authorization for lab, x-ray, or other testing
Note who is to be copied: attorney, attending physician, vocational counselor, medical case manager
Request for legal presence during the IME
Note pending court dates, if applicable.
Please include your phone number or make sure it is on your letterhead.
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