> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.expertmd.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Intake Requests

> Submit, track, and manage intake requests to medical expert witnesses on ExpertMD.

# Managing Intake Requests

Intake requests are how you initiate engagement with a medical expert witness on ExpertMD. You submit a request describing your case and the expertise you need, and the doctor reviews it and decides whether to accept. This guide covers the full lifecycle of intake requests from an attorney's perspective.

## Submitting an intake request

There are two ways to submit an intake request to a medical expert:

### Via the doctor's intake URL

If a doctor has shared their intake URL with you (e.g., `https://expertmd.io/intake/dr-jane-smith`), you can submit a request directly through their form.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Visit the doctor's intake URL">
    Navigate to the URL shared by the doctor. You will see their intake form with their name, specialty, and credentials displayed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the form">
    Complete all required fields:

    * **Your contact information** -- Name, firm, email, phone (pre-filled if you are logged in)
    * **Case type** -- Select the category that best describes your case
    * **Case description** -- Provide a detailed summary of the case and what expert services you need
    * **Timeline** -- Indicate the urgency and expected timeline of the engagement
    * **Documents** -- Optionally attach supporting documents (medical records, case summaries, etc.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit the request">
    Review your information and click **Submit Request**. You will see a confirmation that your request has been sent.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### From within ExpertMD

If you are logged in to ExpertMD, you can also submit intake requests from the platform:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Intake Requests">
    Click **Intake Requests** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Request">
    Click the **New Request** button to start a new intake submission.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the doctor">
    Enter the doctor's name or intake URL to find the expert you want to contact.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete and submit">
    Fill in the case details and submit the request. The process is the same as using the doctor's intake URL.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  If you do not have an ExpertMD account when you visit a doctor's intake URL, you will be prompted to create one. Your intake request is saved and submitted after you complete registration.
</Info>

## Tracking your requests

After submitting an intake request, you can track its status on the **Intake Requests** page.

### Request statuses

| Status       | Description                                                                |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pending**  | Your request has been submitted and is waiting for the doctor to review it |
| **Accepted** | The doctor has accepted your request and a case has been created           |
| **Rejected** | The doctor has declined your request                                       |

<Frame caption="Intake request status progression">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/greenfieldwealthllc/images/attorneys/intake-request-statuses.png" alt="Intake request status progression" />
</Frame>

### Request list view

The Intake Requests page shows all of your submissions with the following columns:

| Column         | Description                                     |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Doctor Name    | The medical expert you submitted the request to |
| Specialty      | The doctor's medical specialty                  |
| Case Type      | The category of your case                       |
| Date Submitted | When you submitted the request                  |
| Status         | Pending, Accepted, or Rejected                  |

### Filter tabs

Use the filter tabs to view requests by status:

* **All** -- Shows every request regardless of status
* **Pending** -- Requests awaiting doctor review
* **Accepted** -- Requests that have been accepted (with links to the resulting cases)
* **Rejected** -- Requests that were declined

<Frame caption="Intake requests list with status filters">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/greenfieldwealthllc/images/attorneys/intake-requests-list.png" alt="Intake requests list with status filters" />
</Frame>

## What happens after submission

### Doctor reviews your request

After you submit an intake request, the doctor receives a notification and can view your request details. They will evaluate whether the case is a good fit for their expertise, schedule, and interests.

### Timing expectations

There is no guaranteed response time, but most doctors respond within 1-3 business days. Factors that affect response time include:

* The doctor's current caseload
* The complexity of the case description
* Whether supporting documents are attached (more complete submissions tend to get faster responses)

<Tip>
  To improve your chances of a quick acceptance, provide a thorough case description with relevant details about the medical issues, timeline, and what type of expert services you need (record review, deposition, trial testimony, etc.).
</Tip>

### If your request is accepted

When a doctor accepts your request:

1. You receive a **notification** in ExpertMD and via email
2. A **new case** is automatically created on the platform
3. The case appears in your **Cases & Records** list
4. You can now collaborate with the doctor through the case (upload documents, schedule appointments, etc.)

Click on the accepted request to navigate directly to the newly created case.

### If your request is rejected

When a doctor rejects your request:

1. You receive a notification
2. The request status changes to Rejected
3. The doctor may provide a brief reason for the rejection
4. You can submit a new request to a different doctor

<Info>
  A rejection is not personal. Doctors may decline for many reasons: the case may be outside their specialty, they may have schedule conflicts, or they may not be the right fit. Use the rejection as an opportunity to find a more suitable expert.
</Info>

## Intake request details

Click on any request in your list to see its full details:

### Request summary

* **Doctor information** -- Name, credentials, specialty
* **Your submission** -- Case type, description, timeline, and any attached documents
* **Status** -- Current status with timestamp
* **Case link** -- If accepted, a direct link to the resulting case

<Frame caption="Intake request detail view">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/greenfieldwealthllc/images/attorneys/intake-request-detail.png" alt="Intake request detail view" />
</Frame>

### Attached documents

If you uploaded documents with your intake request, they are listed here. You can:

* View document names and file sizes
* Download documents you previously uploaded
* See which documents the doctor has accessed (if tracking is available)

## Best practices for intake requests

<Steps>
  <Step title="Write a clear case description">
    Include the key medical issues, the type of injury or condition, and what expert services you need. The more specific you are, the easier it is for the doctor to evaluate the request.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Specify the type of services needed">
    Be explicit about what you need: medical record review, independent medical examination, deposition testimony, trial testimony, expert report, or a combination.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Include a timeline">
    Doctors need to know if there is a trial date or deposition deadline. Provide dates so they can assess whether they are available.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach relevant documents">
    Include medical records, case summaries, or other materials that help the doctor understand the case. This significantly improves acceptance rates.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit to multiple experts if needed">
    If your case is time-sensitive, consider submitting requests to multiple doctors simultaneously. Accept the first positive response and let the others know you have found an expert.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Managing multiple requests

If you work on many cases simultaneously, the Intake Requests page helps you stay organized:

* **Sort by date** to see your most recent submissions first
* **Filter by status** to focus on pending requests that need follow-up
* **Search by doctor name** or case type to find specific requests

## Troubleshooting

### My request has been pending for a long time

* Most doctors respond within 1-3 business days
* After 5 business days, consider submitting a request to another doctor
* The doctor may be on vacation or have a full caseload

### I cannot submit a request

* Ensure your profile is complete (all required fields filled in)
* Check that the doctor's intake form is active (not paused)
* Verify you are logged in to ExpertMD
* Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page

### I submitted a request to the wrong doctor

* If the request is still pending, there is no way to cancel it directly
* Contact ExpertMD support at [support@expertmd.io](mailto:support@expertmd.io) to request cancellation
* The doctor may reject the request on their own, which resolves the issue

### I want to update my request after submission

* Intake requests cannot be edited after submission
* If you need to add information, wait for the doctor to accept the request and then add it to the resulting case
* If critical information is missing, contact the doctor directly (their email is shown on the request) or submit a new request

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Case Management" icon="folder-open" href="/attorneys/case-management">
    Learn how to manage accepted cases
  </Card>

  <Card title="Invoicing" icon="file-invoice" href="/attorneys/invoicing">
    Understand invoices from medical experts
  </Card>
</CardGroup>