Questions and Answers

• Published in: Guides Newsletter
• Main Authors: Brigham, Christopher R., Talmage, James B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Medical Association (AMA) 2000
• Subjects: General Medicine; Canada; Yukon; Prince Edward Island
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2000.janfeb05; https://ama-guides.ama-assn.org/newsletter/article/5/1/7/594/Questions-and-Answers

Abstract Workers’ compensation in Canada is a legislated system of social insurance that is funded by assessments levied on employers. Thirteen established Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) systems have regional jurisdiction and responsibility for administering and adjudicating compensation for the injured worker. Disability awards for certain injuries are determined by statute; others are determined using an acceptable reference or impairment schedule such as the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides). On August 22, 1960, Dr D. E. Bell presented to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada an impairment rating schedule to represent the loss of earning capacity and fulfill the spirit of workers’ compensation. Dr Bell's schedule has served as the basis for many Canadian WCB Primary Rating Schedules. Most jurisdictions refer to the AMA Guides in instances when the primary schedule is inadequate. A table in this article lists the current primary and secondary schedules for assessment of impairment in Canada; another table shows the differences in the ratings between Dr Bell's schedule and the AMA Guides. The AMA Guides is used principally only in Yukon and Prince Edward Island and is used for impairment estimations of more complicated injuries in all regions but Quebec.