Education & Community

CSIMS is committed to delivering top-notch education for medical-legal evaluators and treating physicians, aiming to uphold the highest standards of care and evaluating expertise within the industry. Keeping abreast of the latest case law and evolving regulations is crucial. We facilitate meaningful dialogue and educational opportunities. We also bring together valuable resources including attorneys, workers’ compensation judges, DWC leaders, and payers, in order to create a meaningful dialogue to inform and educate our members.

• Conferences: Our conferences are exciting dynamic events facilitating learning, networking, and building expertise with available CME, QME, and CLE continuing education credits for attendees.

• Online Events: We hold exclusive learning opportunities for members on a regular basis, including case consultations, dialogues with industry leaders, updates on medical-legal matters, and live symposiums.

• Physician-Only Discussion Board: This dedicated platform, available exclusively to members, serves as a vibrant community where doctors can inquire, seek advice, obtain insights, and engage in meaningful dialogue with peers. It is a space where physicians can collaboratively navigate the intricacies of the workers' compensation system, providing support and guidance to one another.

• Physician-Attorney Discussion Board: This platform allows doctor-members to engage with attorney-members to create a medical-legal dialogue helping doctors to understand the attorney perspective and vice versa.

Advocacy

CSIMS is the leading voice of change for physicians in workers' compensation.   Whether you are a treating physician, QME or AME, attorney, or provider of services within the workers’ compensation domain, we are all obligated to adhere to the laws and regulations governing workers' compensation in California. Navigating California's workers' compensation system is a complex task, with challenges including staying abreast of proposed legislation, comprehending the implications of legislative updates, overcoming third-party obstacles, and ensuring fair compensation. A considerable number of both doctors and attorneys were unaware of the details surrounding the last fee schedule change, even after its effective date. In contrast, CSIMS played a pivotal role leading up to the change, actively advocating for equitable compensation for doctors across all specialties.  The organization successfully steered negotiations, resulting in a more fair and balanced fee schedule agreement.

In the realm of workers' compensation, influential entities such as employers and payers frequently have conflicting interests with doctors operating within the same arena.The legal and regulatory framework is in a constant state of flux, underscoring the importance of doctors having a powerful voice. Ongoing advocacy on behalf of doctors is crucial. It is imperative that doctors actively engage with legislators and the Department of Workers' Compensation to pass meaningful legislation and prevent the passage of potentially detrimental legislation.

 As CSIMS continues to uphold its mission, it will remain an indispensable resource for physicians and professionals in industrial medicine, contributing to positive changes in the field and advocating for the rights and well-being of its members.