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What is Ability Assessments, P.C.?

Ability Assessments, P.C. is a medical practice led by Dr. Mary K. Kneiser, a physician board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry) and in electrodiagnostic medicine. The practice focuses on evaluating and treating nerve, muscle and musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular emphasis on occupational injuries and workers' compensation cases.

Its main services are:

• Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs): impartial assessments, typically requested by employers, insurers, attorneys or claims administrators rather than by the patient.
• Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG): nerve conduction studies and needle EMG to diagnose conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy.
• Treatment: ongoing physiatric care for the conditions identified.

The practice lists two Michigan offices: St. Clair Shores (24108 Greater Mack Ave.) and Fenton (400 Rounds Drive, in the Ivy Rehab building, near Flint). New patients are asked to print and complete a history form, and EMG patients have a separate form for both first and follow-up visits. Referring physicians can use an EMG referral form for faster scheduling.

A useful next step depends on who you are. If you are a patient or injured worker, call the office at (586) 443-5686 to confirm whether your visit is for evaluation, testing or treatment, and ask what your referral or claim requires. If you are a physician, employer or claims professional, ask about the referral form and expected turnaround before sending records. If you are comparing providers for an IME, confirm that the physician's certifications match the body part and injury in question, since a physiatrist with electrodiagnostic training is well suited to nerve and spine-related claims but is not a substitute for every specialty.

For broader context on the specialties involved, see American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

How do I refer a patient to Dr. Mary K. Kneiser for an EMG or IME?

Use the practice's referral form or contact the office directly: Ability Assessments provides an EMG Referral Physician Form specifically so referring physicians and healthcare providers get a faster turn-around. For an IME, call the office and describe the case rather than sending the EMG form, since the two services are scheduled differently.

Referral paths at a glance

What to have ready

• Patient name, date of birth and contact details
• Referring provider and practice
• Reason for referral and relevant symptom history
• Suspected diagnosis or the question you want answered
• Insurance or claim information, especially for workers' compensation or occupational injury cases
• Prior imaging, nerve conduction studies or office notes

Choosing between EMG and IME

Refer for an EMG when the clinical question is diagnostic — for example, confirming a nerve entrapment, radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Kneiser is board-certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and holds a neuromuscular ultrasound certificate of added qualification, which is relevant when the study may need to look beyond standard needle testing.

Refer for an IME when an outside, independent opinion is needed — often for workers' compensation, disability or occupational injury matters. In that case, state clearly who is requesting the evaluation and what determination it should address, and ask the office what records they need in advance.

Practical next step

Call (586) 443-5686 and say whether you are referring for an EMG or an IME; the staff can then point you to the right form and the correct office. Appointments are available in St. Clair Shores and Fenton, Michigan, so confirm which location suits the patient before sending paperwork. Fax is (586) 443-5689 if your practice prefers to send records that way.

What should I expect during an electrodiagnostic (EMG) test at Ability Assessments?

At Ability Assessments, P.C., an electrodiagnostic (EMG) test is handled by Dr. Mary K. Kneiser, who is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and in electrodiagnostic medicine, with a neuromuscular ultrasound certificate of added qualification. Based on the practice's own patient forms, you should expect a focused visit built around a structured history and a nerve/muscle study, not a general consultation.

What the visit involves

• Paperwork first: The site provides an EMG Patient Form for new and follow-up patients, plus a New Patient History Form. Filling these out before you arrive is presented as the way to get a faster visit.
• Two parts to the test: "Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG)" typically means nerve conduction studies plus needle EMG. Expect small surface electrodes and brief electrical stimulation for the nerve portion, and a fine needle inserted into selected muscles for the EMG portion.
• Your own history matters: Because the referral and history forms are part of the process, bring a clear timeline of symptoms, prior injuries, surgeries, imaging and medications.
• Afterward: The findings are used to evaluate nerve and muscle function, which is relevant for occupational injury and workers' compensation questions as well as treatment planning.

Practical preparation

• Wear loose clothing that allows access to arms and legs.
• Avoid lotions or oils on the skin on the day of the test.
• Tell the doctor if you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, a pacemaker or implanted electrical device.
• Ask in advance whether you should stop any medications.
• Expect some discomfort during the needle portion; it is brief and usually well tolerated.

How to decide and what to do next

If your question is "is this the right place for my EMG," the relevant trade-off is specialization versus convenience. A practice focused on EMG, independent medical evaluations and physiatric treatment is a good fit when the referral question is nerve injury, radiculopathy, entrapment or workers' compensation documentation. If you mainly need ongoing therapy or a same-day general neurology opinion, a broader clinic may suit you better.

Next step: call the office at (586) 443-5686 or email [email protected] to confirm which location—St. Clair Shores or Fenton—your appointment is at, and to ask whether the referral form should come from your physician beforehand.

How can I schedule an appointment with Dr. Kneiser at the St. Clair Shores or Fenton office?

Contact the office directly to schedule: call +1 (586) 443-5686 or email [email protected]. The practice lists two Michigan locations — St. Clair Shores (24108 Greater Mack Ave., near 9 Mile & Greater Mack) and Fenton (400 Rounds Drive, near US-23 & Owens Rd, exit #78, in the "Ivy Rehab" building). Fax is +1 (586) 443-5689.

Before you call

The site emphasizes faster visits if you print and complete the relevant form first:

• New Patient History Form — for a first appointment.
• EMG Patient Form — for new and follow-up patients coming in for electrodiagnostic testing.

If you are referring rather than attending

Other physicians and healthcare providers can use the EMG Referral Physician Form for a faster turn-around. That route is for clinical referrals, not for a patient booking their own visit.

A practical scenario

If you have workers' compensation or occupational injury paperwork, say so when you call. Dr. Kneiser's practice covers Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs), EMG testing and treatment, and the office can tell you what referral, claim or authorization documents to bring. Ask which location has the earliest opening, since St. Clair Shores and Fenton serve different sides of the metro area.

For background on the practice, see Ability Assessments, P.C..

Does Ability Assessments accept workers' compensation or occupational injury cases?

Yes. Workers' compensation and occupational injury cases are part of this practice's stated focus. Ability Assessments, P.C. is the practice of Dr. Mary K. Kneiser, a physiatrist (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) who provides Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs), electrodiagnostic testing (EMG), and treatment — the combination most often requested in work-related injury and workers' comp claims.

H3 What this means in practice

• IME: An independent evaluation of an injured worker, typically requested by an insurer, employer, attorney, or claims administrator to assess diagnosis, causation, work capacity, and impairment.
• EMG/electrodiagnostic testing: Used to confirm or rule out nerve and muscle damage — for example, after a back injury with radiating leg pain, a neck injury with arm symptoms, or a suspected peripheral nerve injury.
• Treatment: Ongoing physiatric care for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions.

H3 Who typically contacts this office

H3 A useful next step

If you are an adjuster, case manager, or referring provider, use the office's EMG Referral Physician Form so the request is processed faster, and have the claim number, date of injury, and prior imaging or records ready. Patients can print and complete the New Patient History Form (and the EMG Patient Form for new or follow-up EMG visits) before arriving.

H3 Practical decision criteria

• If you need an opinion for a claim: ask specifically for an IME and confirm who is requesting it and what questions must be answered.
• If you need to confirm a nerve injury: ask whether EMG is appropriate and what preparation is required.
• If you need ongoing care: ask whether treatment is billed through workers' compensation or health insurance, since authorization rules differ.

Two Michigan locations are listed — St. Clair Shores (24108 Greater Mack Ave.) and Fenton (400 Rounds Drive, in the Ivy Rehab building) — which may matter for claimants traveling from different parts of the state. Contact: [email protected] or (586) 443-5686; fax (586) 443-5689. For general background on physiatry and electrodiagnostic medicine, see American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

What forms do new patients need to complete before their first visit to Ability Assessments?

New patients at Ability Assessments, P.C. should complete two forms before the first visit:

• New Patient History Form — the general intake form for new patients.
• EMG Patient Form — required for new and follow-up patients when electrodiagnostic (EMG) testing is planned.

If you are being referred by another physician or healthcare provider, that office can also use the EMG Referral Physician Form to help speed up turnaround.

Next step: Print the relevant form(s), answer the questions in advance, and bring them to your appointment. If you are unsure whether your visit includes EMG testing, call the office at (586) 443-5686 or email [email protected] before your visit to confirm which forms apply.