MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS
FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES EVALUATIONS
A Functional abilities evaluation (FAE), or functional capacity evaluation (FCE), provides important and objective information about a claimant’s ability or inability to return to work or daily activities.
They are typically requested to guide a decision pertaining to an individual’s functional status. For example, an employer may request a Functional Abilities Evaluation to determine if an employee would benefit from role modifications as he or she recovers from an injury or illness.
It is important to objectively understand the restrictions that adversely affect an individual’s ability to return to work. By generating relevant information, Functional Capacity Evaluations can largely identify required rehabilitation methods and other actions needed to safely return the evaluee to gainful employment.
Conducted by medical professionals, a Functional Abilities Evaluation gauges the validity of a claimant’s condition by typically testing for:
- Effort
- Strength
- Muscular endurance
- Overall conditioning
- Sustained activity tolerances
- Repetitive working tolerances
It is imperative that examinees devote maximum effort to these tests, which includes co-operating with our assessors. This is because the evaluation aims to identify legitimate barriers, such as excessive pain or movement restriction, to proper functions.
Assessors conduct these assessments while paying particular attention to claimants’ specific injuries and illnesses. This is a thorough process, and examinees can expect to be treated with respect and courtesy.
What Does a Functional Abilities Evaluation Report Include?
Assessors use the results of a Functional Abilities Evaluation to create a detailed and unbiased report. It is largely an analysis of the examinee’s working capabilities, as well as information about restrictions to these capabilities.
All potential recommendations are clearly stated, explicitly addressing the concerns and questions of the referral source.
ASSESSMENT OF ATTENDANT CARE NEEDS
An Assessment of Attendant Care Needs consists of an in-depth patient evaluation of the individual’s ability to perform their activities of daily living (ADL). The assessment report will identify all of the assistive needs of the individual and the costs associated with providing these needs as outlined in the required Assessment of Attendant Care Needs (Form 1).
The form is completed by the registered nurse, reviewed for quality assurance, and then submitted to the claimant.
CHRONIC PAIN ASSESSMENT
The purpose of Chronic Pain assessment is to evaluate the claimant’s levels of psychological and psychosocial signs of a chronic pain condition, functional limitation and disability in order to determine the claimant’s consistency of rehabilitation and give further rehabilitation recommendations. If treated early it can be reversed, but if delayed it will become permanent and as pernicious and destructive to the claimant’s well being as any incurable disease.
JOB SITE ASSESSMENT
A Job Site Assessment is performed by a Chiropractor. Arrangements are made with the individual’s workplace to visually inspect and quantify the job that they were performing. This information provides a detailed report outlining the physical requirements that the individual is required to perform while at their job.
The report may also assist our physicians with recommendations concerning a return to work. The Job Demands Analysis will address specific opportunities for a return to work schedule, when available. The report is based on observations made by the chiropractor and on the information provided in discussion with the individual’s supervisor or manager.