Advancements in AMA Guides Musculoskeletal Impairment Evaluations: Improved Reliability and Ease of Use.

OBJECTIVE:Describe and evaluate methodological improvements in AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (Guides) Sixth Edition 2024, including an updated sequential method and enhanced diagnosis-based impairment tables, compared to the Guides Sixth 2008. METHODS:Three physician experts and three pre-medical students, respectively, completed two rounds of impairment ratings using the AMA Guides Sixth 2008 vs. 2024 methods. Impairment values and completion times using each method were compared for both groups. RESULTS:Time to complete an impairment rating by experts averaged 3.5 minutes using Guides 2024 compared with 13.9 minutes using Guides 2008, with 100% accuracy and reliability for both. Students' time averaged 5.3 minutes and 15.9 minutes, respectively, with increased accuracy and reliability with Guides 2024. CONCLUSIONS:The Guides Sixth 2024 allowed more-efficient impairment ratings while retaining accuracy, consistency, reliability, and reproducibility.