CITATIONS:
The role of disability supervisor has a considerable measure of administrative responsibility and,under the authority of his or her immediate supervisor, has a major role in planning and directing the disability operations of the agency.
At times, the supervisor may also engage in the technical job of making determinations.
The essential functions of the medical consultant's job include the following tasks:
Performing a full professional evaluation of the case, including the assessment of residual function capacity and, in the case of mental impairments, performing functions as prescribed in 404.1523a and 416.920a.
Assisting examiners, as necessary, in determining whether proposed development seems likely to provide sufficient detail about the applicant's impairment to complete the case to the extent necessary for a disability determination.
Judging collectively with the examiner whether:
recontact with the applicant's physician is indicated;
contact should be made with other agencies, hospitals, institutions, etc.; and
a consultative examination (CE) should be purchased, including specialty examinations or specific tests deemed necessary.
Making physician to physician contacts to obtain or clarify medical evidence, as needed.
The medical consultant is equally responsible with the examiner for insuring that:
the case is fully documented;
all significant facts are reflected in the determination;
conflicting evidence is reconciled;
the conclusion reached is sound and rational;
the weight given to the evidence is explained;
the reasoning and thought process followed in evaluating the evidence are reflected; and
the effect of the impairment(s) on the applicant's work capacity is clearly indicated.
The DDS will conduct necessary on-the-job medical training of adjudicative personnel to:
assure uniform understanding of instructions containing medical content, and
eliminate deficiencies in the application of disability evaluation standards, guides, and procedures suggested by cases returned following subsequent reviews, and first-hand observations.
In addition to the training of individual examiners, periodic formal training of the entire examiner staff will be performed.
A medical consultant, preferable the chief medical consultant, will participate in the DDS's professional relations program.