About Us
HVE Healthcare Assessments is an industry leading provider of Independent Medical Assessments. HVE is well known for its client focused culture and its commitment to quality and integrity. We are unwavering in dedication to our customers and providing timely, impartial and defensible assessments and reports.
Founded in 1994, HVE Healthcare Assessments is a privately held, Canadian company. We have been providing independent health services to private and public sector organizations since our inception. We remain one of the few independently owned and operated service providers within our industry.
HVE’s Mission statement captures our Client Centered Philosophy.
‘To exceed our clients’ needs and expectations; to act with integrity, objectivity and consistency; to be mindful that behind every referral and assessment is a person deserving our respect and understanding’
This statement is the cornerstone of everything HVE does. It is the fibre woven into the fabric of our company’s Quality Assurance, Corporate Standards, Privacy & Security Policy and our Customer Service Policy.
Our Leadership Team
At HVE we are proud to employ a truly dedicated team of employees who have each embraced our Client Centred Philosophy, and dedication to customer service and integrity. We are fortunate to have assembled the best leadership team in the industry who together bring decades of experience.
Doris Vernon, Chair
B.A. CRS, CCRC
Co-founder and co-owner of HVE Healthcare Assessments. Doris led HVE in the role of President between 1994-2020. She continues to oversee the company's growth and its commitment to service excellence.
Brian LeDrew, President
B.Sc. (Hon.), R.Kin.
Co-owner of HVE Healthcare Assessments. Brian is a regulated Health Professional and the organization's Principal Representive (FSCO License). He is responsible for business systems, practice, operations and oversees company growth and product quality. Brian has been with HVE since 1998.
Micah Vernon, Vice President
B.A. (Hon.) J.D.
Micah Vernon is responsbile for the operational management of HVE's Intake, Quality Assurance, Technology, Customer Service and Complex Claims departments. Micah is HVE's Privacy Officer and manages all legal and regulatory matters. Micah is a lawyer by trade.
Dr. Charanjit Sandhu, Medical Director
B.Sc (Hon), M.D, Ph.D., R.C.P.S.C., MSc
Dr. Charanjit Sandhu is HVE's Medical Director. He is a duly qualified and certified medical practitioner in the province of Ontario. He is a fully trained specialist in Internal Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
In collaboration with the executive management team, Dr. Sandhu implements and evaluates the HVE assessment delivery model in accordance with the goals of HVE and our customer service level agreements. Dr. Sandhu joined HVE as our Medical Director in 2010.
Simone Sabelli, General Manager
Simone has managed all facets of the business including Administration, QA File Review, HVE's professional Roster and System Security and enhancement as an MIS System Administrator as well as our Bodily Injury Program. Simone joined HVE in 2007.
Our Health Services Team
Dr. Mansour Alvi, Orthopaedic Surgeon
PhD, PEng, MD, FRCSC
Dr. Mansour Alvi is an orthopaedic surgeon focused on the surgical and non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries. He obtained his medical degree from McMaster University and completed specialty training in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. He is fellowship trained in upper and lower extremity orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Alvi completed his first fellowship in hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder trauma and reconstruction at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) at the University of Western Ontario. His second fellowship was in adult hip and knee reconstruction at Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Toronto. Dr. Alvi has received multiple awards - most recently the A.W. Harrison Resident Teaching Award, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto where he was Chief Resident, Trauma Rotation at Sunnybrook Hospital. Prior to pursuing a career in medicine, he aquired a PhD in Engineering from University of Toronto, and received the Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Scientific Research in Canada (1999). Dr. Alvi is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) and an orthopaedic consultant for the Athlete’s Care Sports Medicine Centres. He holds privileges extending to Scarborough General and Ross Memorial Hospitals. Additionally, Dr. Alvi is the senior orthopaedic consultant for a the leading private and executive healthcare clinic in Downtown Toronto. Dr. Alvi has been a fundamental asset in providing innovative methods and technologies to this very high profile patient population in treatment of various orthopaedic conditions.
Dr. Alvi has been an integral part of our Health Services Delivery team for 5 years.
Dr. Deborah Kopansky-Giles, Chiropractor
B.P.H.E., D.C., MSc
Dr. Deborah Kopansky-Giles is a chiropractor, licensed to practice in the province of Ontario. She received a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1978. Dr. Kopansky-Giles graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1982, and successfully completed a Fellowship in Clinical Sciences in 1993. She earned a Master of Science degree in 2010. Currently she is a Professor at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and a Chiropractic Program Coordinator at the St. Michael’s Hospital in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has been involved in performing Independent Chiropractic Examinations since 1988, and was appointed to a Designated Assessment Centre in 1994, conducting Medical and Rehabilitation and Disability DAC assessments at West Park Health Care Centre and St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital since that time. Dr. Kopansky-Giles has been working with HVE as part of its Healthcare Delivery Service Team for over 10 years.
Michael Drinkwater, Physiotherapist
B.Sc. P.T.
Michael Drinkwater is a duly qualified Physiotherapist with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario who has been practicing for the last 21 years since graduating from the University of Toronto. His primary interest is being involved in the assessment and treatment of motor vehicle accident patients. Michael previously worked at the Mount Sinai Hospital in the S.C. Cooper Sports Clinic as an assessing physiotherapist for twelve years. Michael has been working with HVE as part of the Health Care Delivery Team since 2001.
Susanna Pui Shan Au, Occupational Therapist
B.S., OT Reg. (Ont.)
Susanna Pui Shan Au is a duly qualified Occupational Therapist (Ontario 1998). She is registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and is a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from State University of New York, 1997. Ms. Pui Shan Au is certified with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy in the United States.
Susanna completed the training course on AMA Guides to Impairment Rating and was certified in impairment and disability rating based on the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 4th Edition, through the American Board of Forensic Professionals. She is a trained PGAP (Progressive Goal Attainment Program) clinician for the chronic pain population. She is a certified A-ONE (Árnadóttir OT-ADL Neurobehavioral Evaluation) assessor and have completed numerous courses and training on assessing and treating brain injuries.
Susanna has been assessing and treating motor vehicle related injuries since 1998. She has extensive experience in completing In-Home Assessments, Assessment of Attendant Care Needs, Work site Evaluations, Physical/Cognitive Demands Analyses as well as assessing and treating individuals with a variety of orthopaedic, neurological, psychological and cognitive impairments. Susanna has been working with HVE as part of its Health Care Delivery Team since August 1999 and can conduct assessments in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
Our Accomplishments
Since 2013, HVE has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) to provide Independent Evaluation Services for Adults, Children and Adolescents. This accreditation demonstrates HVE’s commitment to reducing risk, addressing health and safety concerns, respecting cultural and individual preferences, and providing the best possible quality of service.
As of December 1, 2014 only service providers licensed by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) will be able to receive direct payment from auto insurers for specific listed expenses provided to statutory accident benefit claimants. HVE is proud to be a fully licensed service provider under the FSCO Regulatory and Applicable Laws.
HVE employs rigid privacy protocols to align with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). As a testament to our commitment to maintaining the integrity of our customers and claimants confidential information, HVE has two dedicated Privacy Officers.
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