Salazar, Juan

In consolidated cases for school district employee Juan Salazar, the WCJ issued a Joint Findings and Order striking PQME Dr. Patchett's orthopedic reports as not substantial medical evidence, ordering a replacement orthopedic panel, additional PQME panels in neurology and internal medicine, an echocardiogram, a formal job analysis, reevaluation by Dr. Ross, and developing the record while deferring all other issues. Defendant sought removal, challenging the additional neurology and internal medicine panels, the job analysis order, the echocardiogram, and the striking of Dr. Patchett's reports under Labor Code section 4628. The Board treated the petition as one for reconsideration because the decision contained final (threshold) findings on employment and AOE/COE, though it applied the removal standard since defendant only challenged interlocutory discovery orders. The Board granted reconsideration to allow sufficient time to study the factual and legal issues, particularly whether the order striking Dr. Patchett's report complied with due process and whether the 'joint request' panel order conflicted with section 4062.2(b). A final decision after reconsideration was deferred.