What document must a physician use to determine impairment ratings?

The correct answer is the AMA Guides, which are established guidelines used to assess and determine impairment ratings in a consistent and standardized manner. The AMA Guides provide a comprehensive framework that includes detailed descriptions of various impairments, criteria for evaluating these impairments, and methods for calculating impairment ratings based on medical evidence.

Utilizing the AMA Guides allows physicians to create objective evaluations that are widely recognized and accepted in legal and medical contexts. This standardization is crucial for ensuring fairness in assessments, especially in cases related to disability and workers' compensation.

While other documents like state disability guidelines, employer's assessment reports, or previous court rulings can offer additional context or insight regarding a worker's situation, they do not provide the same structured methodology for assessing impairment as the AMA Guides. Thus, they are considered secondary sources compared to the authoritative nature of the AMA Guides in determining impairment ratings.