This weekend Dr. Chase Hayden certified through the state of Texas to be a “Designated Doctor” under the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians.According to the Texas Department of Insurance, in 2012, there were only 1751 certified Designated Doctors in the state of Texas among all physicians (MD, DO, DC, DDS, etc).

A “Designated Doctor” in Texas is a doctor selected by Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) to make a recommendation about an injured employee’s medical condition or to resolve a dispute about a work-related injury or occupational illness. As an unbiased Designated Doctor in Texas, I will be asked by TDI-DWC to evaluate injured individuals that are involved in disputes between insurance providers, doctors, companies, and other involved parties in the legal system. Essentially, I will be an “expert” witness to provide an unbiased opinion as to how well the patient is healing, if the treating doctors are following appropriate standards of care, if the patient has reached the maximal medical improvement (MMI), and/or determine the impairment rating (IR) when needed.