A psychological IME brings an independent clinician into a case to answer questions about diagnosis, causation, treatment, prognosis, or function. Virtually CALM conducts psychological and psychiatric IMEs by secure video for people located in Texas.
- The examiner is not part of the treatment team, which keeps the report objective.
- Reports answer each referral question directly with supporting data.
- Every provider is licensed for Texas, where you’re located during each session.
- Reports are delivered securely to authorized parties only.
- In a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 for immediate danger.
What an IME is designed to do
An IME is a clinical evaluation used to assess behavioral health, psychological, cognitive, or functional concerns related to injury, disability, recovery, or workplace matters. IMEs are commonly requested in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability cases. The examining clinician is independent of the person’s treatment team, which allows an objective view.
A psychological IME typically includes a clinical interview, standardized testing and validity measures when indicated, and a review of medical and treatment records and other collateral information. The report addresses the referral questions directly: diagnosis, relationship to the injury, appropriateness of current treatment, prognosis, and functional opinions.
Case managers and TPAs can learn more on our claims partnership page for case managers.
If you’re in crisis right now, please don’t wait for an appointment.
Virtually CALM is not an emergency service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or crisis, free 24/7 support is available now.
How IME referrals work
Referral partners submit the examination request, questions, and authorized records. Our coordination team schedules the exam by secure video and confirms deadlines. The examining clinician completes the evaluation and delivers a clear narrative report. Because the examiner isn’t part of the treatment team, the report stays objective.
The American Psychological Association provides guidance relevant to psychological testing and assessment.
- RequestReferral questions and records submitted.
- ScheduleVirtual exam arranged across licensed states.
- ExamineInterview, testing, and record review.
- DeliverA narrative report addressing each question.
What progress can look like
An IME report is most useful when each referral question gets a direct answer with its supporting data. Our examiners organize reports around the questions asked, distinguish objective findings from self-report, and note where information was limited. That structure helps adjusters, attorneys, and case managers act on the findings without guesswork. Supplemental reviews can be arranged when new records arrive after the examination.
Between appointments
Before an evaluation, the most helpful thing a client can do is rest, eat normally, and set up a private, quiet space with a stable connection. Bring glasses or hearing aids if you use them, and let the evaluator know about pain, medications, or anything else that could affect your performance on the day. Referral partners can help by sending authorized records early and flagging any deadlines, so the evaluation is scheduled with enough time for a thorough report.
Questions IMEs typically address
These are patterns clinicians commonly hear from people in Texas looking into psychological IME. Any one of them is a reasonable reason to reach out.
- DiagnosisWhether a psychological condition is present.
- CausationHow symptoms relate to the injury or event.
- TreatmentWhether current care is appropriate and necessary.
- PrognosisExpected course and future care needs.
- FunctionCapacity for work and daily activities.
- Maximum improvementWhether recovery has plateaued.
Who provides your care
Specialty evaluations at Virtually CALM are led by Chief Psychologist Dr. Melissa Bailey and a multidisciplinary forensic clinical team. Evaluations typically combine a structured clinical interview, standardized testing, validated symptom measures, and record review when appropriate. The goal is clear, defensible findings grounded in clinical and neurobehavioral expertise, written so that treating providers, attorneys, adjusters, and courts can follow the reasoning.
Licensed Psychologist
Doctoral-level psychologist for psychological testing, diagnostic evaluations, and forensic reporting.
Neurobehavioral Psychologist
Specialized evaluation for traumatic brain injury, concussion, and cognitive symptoms.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatric evaluation and opinions on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis when indicated.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Cognitive-communication assessment after TBI when attention, memory, or language are affected.
An evaluation is most useful when it connects to care. Findings can inform a treatment plan with our therapists and psychiatric providers, and recommendations are written to be actionable. For referral partners, our team coordinates scheduling, authorized records, and report delivery through secure, HIPAA-compliant channels.
Why virtual care fits this work
Many psychological evaluation components, including structured interviews, validated symptom measures, and a range of standardized tests, can be administered by secure video under appropriate conditions. Evaluators choose measures that remain valid in a virtual format and confirm the setting before testing begins. When a referral question needs a different format, that decision is made on clinical grounds and explained in advance.
The National Institute of Mental Health describes conditions commonly evaluated in injury-related IMEs.
For attorneys, case managers, and treating providers
Referral partners use our evaluation team when they need clinical clarity that stands up to review. Our coordination team confirms the referral question, deadlines, and authorized records before scheduling, keeps the referring party informed, and delivers reports through secure channels. Because treatment and evaluation live in the same coordinated system but are handled by different clinicians, recommendations can move into care without a new referral while the evaluator’s role stays objective.
Referral partners can expect a few things from every Virtually CALM evaluation. The referral question is confirmed in writing before scheduling, so the scope is clear. Records are requested and transmitted through secure channels, and the evaluator notes which records were reviewed. The report separates objective findings from self-report, explains the measures used, and states recommendations in plain language. Questions after delivery go through our coordination team, which keeps communication organized and documented.
Psychological Independent Medical Examination (IME) across Texas
Texas is big enough that geography itself becomes a barrier to care. A specialist in Houston or Dallas can be a full day’s round trip from West Texas or the Valley, and that’s before you factor in pain, a vehicle that was totaled, or a job you can’t step away from. Virtual sessions remove the drive. Whether you’re in a downtown high-rise or on a ranch outside Lubbock, the visit starts the same way: a secure link on your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Texas cases frequently involve clients who live far from the attorney, the treating physicians, and the venue. A virtual evaluation lets the evaluator meet the client where they are, from El Paso to Beaumont, without coordinating travel. For workers’ compensation matters, our team also asks early whether the employer is a subscriber, because that affects which pathway and documentation the referral requires.
Clients join from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, McAllen, and Amarillo, and smaller towns from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley. Every Virtually CALM provider is licensed in the state where care is delivered, which means the state where you’re physically sitting during the session.
Bilingual providers and interpretation support are available for Spanish-speaking clients in South Texas, El Paso, and every metro in between.
Texans who work rotations, drive long haul, or spend time across state lines should let us know where they’ll be during each session. We match licensing to your physical location, not your home address.
If your care is connected to a claim
Texas is unusual because many private employers can choose not to carry workers’ compensation coverage. Injured workers at those non-subscriber employers often have a different path to benefits than workers covered by a standard policy, so it’s worth confirming your employer’s status with your attorney or adjuster early.
Attorneys can review how we structure reports on the attorney partnership page.
Is this the right fit?
This service fits attorneys, insurers, case managers, TPAs, and disability reviewers who need an objective psychological or psychiatric opinion about an individual located in Texas.
Our virtual care FAQ answers common questions about scheduling and technology.
Telehealth.HHS.gov covers how behavioral health services are delivered virtually.
Three paths, one coordinated team
Therapy & Counseling
Trauma-informed, evidence-based talk therapy for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and recovery stress.
See therapy detailsPsychiatry & Medication
Psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication management by psychiatrists and APRNs.
See psychiatry detailsPsychological Evaluations
Psychological, neurobehavioral, and forensic evaluations, IMEs, and impairment ratings.
See evaluations detailsYour first appointment, start to finish
The first visit is designed to feel supportive and paced to your comfort. The goal is to understand what you’re carrying, how it’s affecting daily life in Texas, and what kind of support will help most.
- Scope confirmedOur team confirms the referral question, authorization, and records before scheduling.
- Join securelyThe evaluation takes place on a HIPAA-secure video platform from a private, quiet space.
- Interview and measuresThe evaluator conducts a structured interview and standardized assessments.
- Report deliveredFindings are delivered securely to authorized parties with clear recommendations.
Getting started in Texas
Getting started in Texas works the same way whether you’re in Houston or a town of a few hundred people. A referral partner can submit our secure form, or you can schedule directly or call (407) 550-7755. Our team confirms the service, checks any claim-specific requirements, matches you with a provider licensed for your location in Texas, and sends a secure link for your first session.
Questions people ask about psychological IME in Texas
What is a psychological IME?
A psychological independent medical examination is an objective evaluation performed by a clinician who isn’t part of the person’s treatment team. It’s used to answer specific questions about diagnosis, causation, treatment, prognosis, or functional capacity. IMEs are common in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability cases. The result is a written report addressing the referral questions.
Who usually requests an IME?
IMEs are typically requested by insurers, employers, third-party administrators, case managers, or attorneys involved in a claim. The requesting party defines the questions the examination should answer. The person being examined is informed about the purpose and the examiner’s role. Our team coordinates all of that before the appointment.
Can an IME be performed by video?
Yes, many components can be completed by secure video, including interviews and a range of standardized measures. The examiner decides whether the referral questions and testing support a virtual format. If an in-person component is required for validity, that’s discussed in advance. Virtual IMEs can reduce scheduling delays and travel.
What should I expect if I’m the person being examined?
You’ll meet with the examining clinician by video, answer questions about your history and current symptoms, and complete standardized questionnaires. The examiner will explain their role and that they aren’t providing treatment. Choose a private, quiet space with a stable connection. You can ask questions about the process at the start.
Can psychological evaluations be done virtually in Texas?
Yes. Virtually CALM conducts many psychological, neurobehavioral, and forensic evaluations by secure video for clients located in Texas. Clinical interviews, validated symptom measures, and a range of standardized tests can be administered remotely under appropriate conditions. When a specific test or referral question requires a different format, the evaluating clinician will explain that before scheduling. The goal is a valid, defensible evaluation, so format decisions are made on clinical grounds.
Who can refer someone for an evaluation in Texas?
Referrals usually come from personal injury attorneys, case managers, third-party administrators, employers, workers’ compensation professionals, and treating medical providers. Individuals can also contact us directly to ask about an evaluation. Our team reviews the referral question, confirms authorization and documentation needs, and matches the case to the right evaluator. That process keeps the scope of the evaluation clear before the first appointment.
- American Psychological Association. www.apa.org
- National Institute of Mental Health. www.nimh.nih.gov
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Telehealth.HHS.gov. telehealth.hhs.gov
This page is for general educational purposes and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Clinical decisions are made by licensed providers after evaluation.