Independent, transparent and swift clarity on work capacityIndependent medical assessment
We offer an independent second opinion on work capacity – on behalf of companies and insurers who wish to have a certified incapacity for work reviewed.
Your independent medical examiner in Bern – neutral and free of instructions
Evaluation when the mandate arrives
Once we receive a mandate, we use the documentation to evaluate which route makes sense: an initial telemedicine consultation – or an in-person examination straight away.
Telemedicine assessment
Where it makes sense, we first contact the patient by telemedicine. Clear-cut cases of incapacity for work can then be assessed and documented efficiently, with little effort and considerably faster.
In-person assessment at the practice
If it is clear from the outset that a physical examination is required – or if telemedicine does not provide conclusive clarity – we invite the patient to our practice in Bern (Laupenstrasse 1) for an in-person assessment of work capacity.
This way every case receives exactly the depth of examination it requires – without unnecessary travel and without unnecessary delay.
Four clear services
Work capacity assessment & plausibility check
An independent medical examination where there are justified doubts about an incapacity for work; a structured assessment related to the actual workplace.
Second opinion on medical certificates
Review and interpretation of existing certificates, including partial work capacity and reasonable adapted duties.
Support for return to work
Medically sound recommendations for realistic return-to-work plans, coordinated with the employer and the treating physicians.
Assessments for insurers & case management
Fast, independent medical opinions for case steering, for example in daily sickness benefits (KTG) cases or early disability insurance (IV) intervention.
When does an independent medical examination make sense?
Typical, objective situations in which an independent medical second opinion creates clarity.
- Repeated short absences with no discernible pattern
- Sick leave immediately after a dismissal or a conflict
- Contradictory or backdated medical certificates
- A clear discrepancy between the certified incapacity for work and the documented requirements of the workplace
- Long-running cases with no clear return-to-work perspective
An examination against the will of the person concerned requires justified doubts. For return-to-work and case management, a shared interest in clarity is sufficient – we advise you on what is appropriate in your case.
Repeated or prolonged absences
When short absences pile up or a case drags on unusually long, there is often more behind it than a single sick note reveals. We look into the causes, appraise work capacity from a medical perspective and propose measures that serve the person concerned and the organisation alike.
Return to work after illness or accident
Coming back after a serious illness or an accident is a sensitive moment. A neutral assessment shows what can reasonably be expected – and which adjustments to workload, duties or workplace make the return sustainable without overstretching the person concerned.
Fitness assessment before starting a job
Before an engagement begins, it can be clarified whether a person meets the health requirements of the intended role. Only the suitability for those specific duties is assessed – not the state of health as such.
What employers may do – and what they may not
An independent medical examination is not a vote of no confidence but a regulated instrument. These four points explain what it rests on and where its limits lie.
Duty of loyalty of employees
Employees are required to safeguard the legitimate interests of their employer (Art. 321a OR, the Swiss Code of Obligations). This includes giving truthful information about their own work capacity and cooperating in clarifying it.
Right to have it verified
Where there are concrete doubts about a certified incapacity for work, or absences accumulate to the point where operations suffer considerably, the company may request an independent medical examination.
Limits of such an order
This right is not unlimited. The order must be proportionate and rest on comprehensible indications. An examination without a concrete reason is not admissible – which is why we check in advance whether it is warranted in the case at hand.
Data protection
Diagnoses and medical details belong to an employee's private sphere and are not disclosed without their consent (Art. 328b OR – the Swiss Code of Obligations – and the Swiss Data Protection Act, DSG). The company only receives the information it needs for deployment planning.
This overview outlines the legal situation in general terms and does not replace legal advice in an individual case.
What the employer learns – and what it does not
What the client is told
- Degree and expected duration of the incapacity for work
- Type of impediment (illness or accident)
- Reasonable adapted deployment options
- The return-to-work perspective
What stays protected
Diagnoses, findings and treatment details are protected by medical confidentiality and are not passed on. The examination takes place with the written consent of the person examined.
What can you expect from the examination?
A structured medical consultation
We first evaluate your documentation; depending on the situation, a telemedicine consultation or an examination on site in Bern takes place.
A fair, independent assessment
We take neither the employer's side nor the insurer's. The mandate and the fee come from the company or the insurer; the medical assessment itself is free from instructions and follows professional medical standards.
Medical details remain protected
Diagnoses and findings are covered by medical confidentiality. Only work-relevant information is passed on – what you are able to do, not why.
Frequently asked questions about the independent medical examiner
Only work-related information – the degree and expected duration of the incapacity for work as well as reasonable deployment options. Diagnoses and findings are protected by medical confidentiality and are not passed on.
The treating physician provides treatment; the independent medical examiner assesses work capacity independently and in relation to the workplace – as a second opinion where there are justified doubts.
Where there are justified doubts about the incapacity for work. We advise you on your specific situation – for legal questions we work with a law firm.
The initial telemedicine consultation usually takes place within a few days; the assessment follows promptly after the examination.
First we evaluate your documentation. Where it makes sense, a telemedicine consultation takes place. If an in-person examination is needed, it is held at our practice in Bern, Laupenstrasse 1.
With AcciMed you make the difference
Targeted return-to-work strategies, partial work models and structured support measurably reduce illness and accident costs – with greater stability for everyone involved.