I have noticed that the number of cases assigned for panels to review fluctuates within a range of 8 to 13. Why is that?
The Administrator asked the RPES Advisory Committee to recommend ways to reduce RPES travel and administrative costs. Among the adopted recommendations was a change in the average panel caseload guidelines. Under the new policy, a minimum of 8 cases is assigned per panel, and a “working” maximum of 12. To accommodate Reevaluation and Early Reviews approved by Area Directors, an “absolute” maximum of 13 cases may be assigned to a panel. 5. I served on a panel recently where the IDR for one of the cases came across as something of an advocate for upgrading a position. Is my memory slipping, or wasn’t the need for IDR objectivity a key point repeated during our New Panelist training? Your memory is excellent… it is expected that IDR’s will be objective both in factfinding and in reporting to the panel. The IDR is, after all, the agent of the panel they are serving on. Representing the system objectively and honestly is an important responsibility. Of course, it is sometimes difficult no
