Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 4th Edition (Hardcover)

~ American Medical Association (Author) "The Guides was first published in book form in 1971 in response to a public need for a standardized, objective approach to evaluating medical impairments..." (more)
Key Phrases: Groot Swanson, American Medical Association, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Widely used by physicians as a standard system for evaluating and reporting on medical impairments, and by non-physicians for understanding and using impairment information appropriately. Illustrated 56 U.S. contributors.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: American Medical Association; 4th edition (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899705537
• ISBN-13: 978-0899705538
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #405,238 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I thought less emotional review is needed..., December 19, 2005

By	Sports Doc "Teamwork is when everyone runs ar... (Moreno Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition (Hardcover)

I still feel that those people below who feel that this book is the greatest thing since sliced bread are biased and must have some interest in the book. This book does have many contributors.

Here's my frank take on it. If your state requires you to use this book for impairment ratings, you have no choice but to purchasing it. However, be aware that this book is extremely inconsistent and you will certainly have to attend some type of seminars or educational sessions in order to use it effectively.

This book is actually a step backward from previous editions. Each region of the body uses different ratings system and the language is vague at best and in some cases seems to mean opposite of it's intention.

This book will not be able to prepare you for impairment rating. It may only be used as reference after learning the system from someone who has used it.

This book must have gained authority from good lobby rather than quality contents.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Charts, August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition (Hardcover)

Although my copy came with 10 pages of errata sheets stuck in the front of it (presumably cured in the 5th version), I still got a lot out of reading through this book. The descriptions of impairment are de regeur reading for coming up with convincing settlement demands for soft tissue injuries. Someone's shoulder hurts? How do you say they have lost 20% of their upper body use as a result? Why not 90% of one finger, 50% of one hand, and 80% of one arm? Multiple impairments like these can be descriptively segmented to more fully elaborate what a patient is feeling, and how they are limited in daily activities. Both the plaintiff bar and the insurance community are well-served by this book. As for the medical accuracy of it, I'll take the AMA's word for it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars better, but could still use improvement, March 4, 2007

By	Ronald Reagan (Philadelphia, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fifth Edition (Hardcover)

Several chapters, such as the one on the spine, lower extremities, skin, and pulmonary system are, indeed, quite well-written and fairly easy to follow.

The chapter on upper extremities, however, is simply in deplorable shape.

Moreover, the AMA guides did not do a good job of explaining when it is appropriate to use a certain method and when it is not. in many cases, the evaluator is not sure which method to use, even after a careful reading of the guides.

The overarching philosophy of the Guides is not explained as well as it should be.

All in all, however, a vast improvement over the much more difficult to use fourth edition.

needless to say, a physician using this book needs both an instructor and an appropriate patient population to refine his/her skills as a disability evaluator.