MEDICAL CONSULTANT

Definition

Under the general supervision of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, reviews, evaluates and interprets medical information regarding physical impairments provided in Social Security Disability and SSI Disability claims; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Reviews disability applications; evaluates medical evidence in support of alleged physical impairments; determines eligibility for benefits based on social security laws and guidelines.
• Assess the severity of physical impairments and the impact the impairments have on the ability to function as related to the ability to work. Provide, as needed and in accordance with SSA policy and procedures, statements regarding a claimant's residual level of functioning.
• Reviews and verifies claimant records and medical history.
• Interprets medical terminology and application of medical evidence in the determination process regarding physical functioning.
• Provides advice and consultation to disability examiner staff.
• Completes all required forms, summarizes findings, and returns the claim to the adjudicator for further processing.
• Obtains, when necessary, additional medical information via telephone contact with a treating or consulting medical resource.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative medical, statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Maintains essential medical records, studies, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

License

A valid license to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey and as established in CFR 404.1616(b) which states;

A medical consultant must be an acceptable medical source, that is:

1) Licensed physicians (medical or osteopathic doctors) or;

2) Licensed optometrists, for purposes of establishing visual disorders only (except, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, licensed optometrists, for the measurement of visual acuity and visual fields only) or;

3) Licensed podiatrists, for purposes of establishing impairments of the foot, or foot and ankle only, depending on whether the State in which the podiatrist practices permits the practice of podiatry on the foot only, or the foot and ankle or;

4) Qualified speech-language pathologists, for purposes of establishing speech or language impairments only. For this source, "qualified" means that the speech-language pathologist must be licensed by the State professional licensing agency, or be fully certified by the State education agency in the State in which he or she practices, or hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Medical consultants who are not physicians are limited to evaluating the impairments for which they are qualified.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the accepted principles of medicine and medical practice.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Ability to review, evaluate and interpret medical information in the area of specialty.
• Ability to collect materials for and prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative medical, statistical, and other reports, containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to draft detailed correspondence.
• Ability to maintain essential medical records, studies, reports, and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or, related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.