What does "maximum medical improvement" (MMI) indicate?

"Maximum medical improvement" (MMI) signifies that a patient's medical condition has reached a point of stabilization where further medical treatment is unlikely to lead to significant improvement. At this stage, the healthcare provider assesses that the patient has benefited from the maximum therapeutic intervention available to them, meaning their condition is not expected to change substantially with additional treatment.

This understanding is critical in workers' compensation cases because it helps determine the next steps for the worker, be it return to work considerations or potential disability evaluations. Recognizing when someone has reached MMI is essential for making decisions about ongoing care, rehabilitation needs, or the potential necessity for a change in job duties or roles based on their functional capacity. Thus, the choice affirming that the patient's condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve further accurately reflects the meaning of MMI in the context of workers' compensation.