Medical Assistant Interview Report

Thank you for agreeing to examine Ms. Alma Quiz as a Panel Qualified Medical Evaluator. The examination is scheduled to take place at your office on June 14, 2017 at 1:00 pm.

A copy of all the medical file currently in our possession were forwarded to you on May 15, 2017. Additional medical records will be forwarded to you under a separate cover. We took the applicant’s deposition on October 26, 2016. The deposition transcript is also included in the medical file. Please review all the records thoroughly and include their contents in your conclusions.

Background

Two Application for Adjudication of Claim have been filed.

The first Application has alleged an injury as a result of an acute incident on March 5, 2015, to the upper extremity,

The report notes a prior shoulder surgery in 2002, on the right shoulder.

An X-ray was done of the left shoulder, which did reveal degenerative changes in the acromioclavicular joint, as well as post-surgical changes, and degenerative changes on the right side in the acromioclavicular joint.

The applicant was subsequently referred to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Peter Simonian. An MRI of the right shoulder was conducted on April 10, 2015, which noted tendinopathy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. No tear of the rotator cuff, but a superior labrum anterior to posterior tear extending to the posterior labrum, as well as post-surgical changes. The MRI of the left shoulder also revealed a superior labrum anterior to posterior tear, as well as a low grade partial tear of the supraspinatus tendon, but no rotator cuff tear. There were notable degenerative changes.

On May 17, 2016, the applicant underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression and debridement, and possible distal clavicle excision, on the left shoulder.

On [blank], right shoulder

Also, the applicant testified that she had a subsequent employment with Golden Valley Distribution. She testified she was hired on June 1, 2015, as a Merchandiser. She worked there until May 11, 2016. Her job duties there are essentially the same as her job duties at the time of her alleged injuries here. Please advise if the applicant’s subsequent employment may have, within a reasonable medical probability, contributed to her present level of permanent disability due to an aggravation.

Per the en banc decision of Escobedo v. Marshalls (2005) 70 Cal. Com. Cases 604, a doctor must analyze apportionment of permanent disability based on causation, which refers to the causation of the permanent disability, not causation of injury. In other words, permanent disability is evaluated based on applicant’s condition at the time of the permanent and stationary determination. Apportionment shall be given to factors contributing to the present permanent disability, which shall include factors from the injury, pre-injury condition, and post-injury