The Columbia Center for Occupational and Forensic Psychiatry specializes in performing Independent Psychiatric Evaluations (IME’s) and Fitness For Duty Evaluations (FFDE’s) for clients requiring an IME or FFDE Evaluation. We can schedule an evaluation within 2 days of the referral and generate a report for the client within 1 week after the evaluation.

We serve a wide variety of clients who present with a range of psychiatric and forensic needs. The Columbia Center will strive to help our clients achieve their specific goals by identifying the core issues involved and then help the client to arrive at the appropriate solution. Towards this end, we review the medical records, and obtain necessary additional information, perform psychiatric evaluations, assessments and administer psychological testing as required. An objective clinical evaluation of the issues involved is provided to the client in a comprehensive written report that is sufficiently detailed to serve as a basis for subsequent deposition testimony or courtroom testimony if required.

Our staff can assist you with occupational and forensic consultation and advice for legal issues, which have psychiatric implications. The Center’s Director, Dr. David J. Fischer, has extensive experience in clinical and forensic psychiatry. He has been in practice for 45 years. Dr. Fischer has extensive experience and knowledge in outpatient and inpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment as well as extensive occupational and forensic expertise.

As an Occupational and Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr. Fischer applies psychiatric expertise to organizational and legal matters. He is a medical expert. A medical expert is a physician who has the requisite clinical experience and academic achievement to form an objective medical opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. A forensic psychiatrist is a physician who integrates clinical experience, knowledge of medicine, mental health, and the neurosciences to form an independent, objective opinion. In the process of forming an objective opinion relevant data is gathered and analyzed as part of a process of alternative hypothesis testing to formulate an expert medical/psychiatric opinion. This expert opinion can be effectively communicated in a written report, a deposition, or courtroom testimony. The applications of forensic psychiatry are widespread in settings ranging from health care and the workplace to criminal justice and public safety.