Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME)

Dane Street; California City (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Dane Street, LLC invites experienced physicians to join its QME network in California. As an independent contractor, you will perform objective medical-legal evaluations for injured workers, reviewing records and delivering comprehensive reports per DWC guidelines.

You can maintain your clinical practice while expanding into workers’ compensation. The role offers flexibility with in-person and remote evaluation opportunities and access to dedicated administrative support and report processing

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted California physician license (MD or DO).
• Board certification or board eligibility in an eligible specialty, or other qualifications meeting applicable DWC requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain California QME certification, if not already certified.
• Strong clinical knowledge within your specialty.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to evaluate medical information objectively and independently.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Professional commitment to impartial, evidence-based medical opinions.
• Ability to meet report completion and turnaround requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent, objective medical-legal evaluations of injured workers.
• Perform comprehensive medical examinations when required.
• Review medical records, diagnostic studies, prior treatment, and other relevant documentation.
• Obtain appropriate medical history and perform a focused physical examination.
• Analyze medical evidence presented in each case.
• Provide objective medical opinions within your area of expertise.
• Address medical-legal questions presented in evaluations.
• Prepare accurate, thorough, and well-supported QME reports.
• Follow applicable California DWC rules, regulations, and QME requirements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and professional standards.
• Meet established report completion and turnaround expectations.
• Participate in supplemental reports, depositions, or testimony when appropriate.
• Maintain current QME certification and required professional credentials.
• Communicate professionally with the medical-legal support team regarding case requirements.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Attention to detail

Clinical knowledge

Impartial, evidence-based opinions

Education

MD or DO license

Board certification or eligibility

Job description

California Board Certified Physician

California | Flexible Schedule | Independent Contractor Opportunities

Opportunity Overview

• Role Summary: Seeking experienced Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) and California-licensed physicians interested in becoming QMEs to perform objective, independent medical-legal evaluations for injured workers within the California Workers’ Compensation system.
• Core Responsibilities: Evaluate medical conditions, review medical records, address disputed medical issues, and prepare comprehensive reports following California DWC requirements.
• No Prior QME Experience Needed: We offer guidance, education, and administrative support to help eligible physicians enter the QME field.
• Focus Division: You focus on the medical evaluation and expert opinion; our team handles the operational infrastructure.

Why Become a QME?

• Generate additional income outside of traditional clinical practice
• Maintain flexibility over your schedule
• Diversify your professional practice
• Continue practicing medicine
• Develop a medical-legal consulting practice
• Utilize existing clinical expertise in a new professional setting
• Work with a broad range of Workers’ Compensation cases within your specialty
• Participate in in-person and, when appropriate, remote evaluations
• Build long-term relationships with a professional medical-legal organization

What You Will Do

• Conduct independent, objective medical-legal evaluations of injured workers
• Perform comprehensive medical examinations when required
• Review medical records, diagnostic studies, prior treatment, and other relevant documentation
• Obtain appropriate medical history and perform a focused physical examination
• Analyze medical evidence presented in each case
• Provide objective medical opinions within your area of expertise
• Address medical-legal questions presented in evaluations
• Prepare accurate, thorough, and well-supported QME reports
• Follow applicable California DWC rules, regulations, and QME requirements
• Maintain appropriate documentation and professional standards
• Meet established report completion and turnaround expectations
• Participate in supplemental reports, depositions, or testimony when appropriate
• Maintain current QME certification and required professional credentials
• Communicate professionally with the medical-legal support team regarding case requirements

Dane Street Supports Your Practice

You provide the medical expertise; we provide the infrastructure.

Administrative Support

• Case intake and coordination
• Appointment scheduling
• Examinee communications
• Case logistics and confirmations
• Medical record retrieval and organization
• Case preparation
• Correspondence with involved parties
• Medical Assistant support on the day of evaluation
• All forms and templates provided
• Evaluation locations throughout California

Report Support

• Easy-to-use Physician Portal
• Transcription/dictation support
• Report formatting and administrative preparation
• Historian Services
• Report quality assurance support
• Report submission assistance
• Tracking of supplemental report requests
• Administrative support related to depositions and follow-up activities

Practice & Physician Support

• QME onboarding and credentialing
• DWC process guidance
• QME education and training
• QME exam preparation resources for eligible physicians
• Mentorship and access to experienced QME physicians
• Ongoing physician education
• Dedicated physician support
• Billing and collections support
• Payment processing

For Experienced QMEs

• Expand your evaluation volume
• Access additional case opportunities
• Increase geographic coverage and expand into additional evaluation locations
• Reduce administrative workloadBuild or expand your medical-legal practice
• Gain access to operational, scheduling, billing, and administrative resources

For Physicians New to QME Work

• QME eligibility guidance
• Application and credentialing assistance
• Education regarding the California QME process
• QME competency examination preparation resources
• Medical-legal report-writing education
• Orientation to DWC requirements
• Mentorship from experienced QME physicians
• Guidance on establishing an efficient evaluation and reporting workflow
• Ongoing support as you develop your QME practice
• (Note: Physicians must independently satisfy applicable California QME eligibility and certification requirements)

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted California physician license (MD or DO)
• Board certification or board eligibility in an eligible specialty, or other qualifications meeting applicable DWC requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain California QME certification, if not already certified
• Strong clinical knowledge within your specialty
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to evaluate medical information objectively and independently
• Strong attention to detail
• Professional commitment to impartial, evidence-based medical opinions
• Ability to meet report completion and turnaround requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Current California QME certification
• Prior QME, AME, IME, or other medical-legal experience
• Experience with California Workers’ Compensation
• Experience preparing medical-legal reports
• Experience providing deposition or expert testimony
• Familiarity with California DWC regulations and QME requirements
• Strong report‑writing skills
• Established clinical practice in an actively recruited specialty

Specialties of Interest

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation
• Pain Medicine
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Occupational Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
• Dermatology
• Otolaryngology
• Ophthalmology
• Urology
• Chiropractic

Join Our Physician Network

• Support Summary: You do not have to build a QME practice alone; we provide operational support, systems, resources, and administrative infrastructure.