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208 Flynn Avenue, Suite 3D, Burlington, VT 05401 • Ph: 802-383-8116 • Fax: 802-881-0559 • Email: [email protected] FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY EVALUATIONS Funconal Capacity Evaluaons (FCE’s) are a collecon of tests that are used to idenfy a person’s current safe work capacity. Paent’s will be asked to perform a range of physical acvies that will include sing, standing, walking, climbing, liſting, carrying, pushing, pulling, handling, reaching, squang, crouching, kneeling, turning, crawling and work simulaon. Who needs an FCE? • Paents who need clarificaon on whether they are safe performing a specific job. • Injured workers who are returning to work and need objecve data on what work restricons they may need. • To assist a physician to make a recommendaon for rehabilitaon needs. • Assist a physician with impairment/disability determinaon. What to bring and wear? Bring a job descripon for the job you are being assessed on. If appropriate, bring work equipment that could be used during work simulaon. You may bring a snack and drink as we will normally have a 10 minute break half way through the evaluaon. Wear clothes and footwear that they would normally wear at work or feel comfortable exercising in. How long is the FCE? The evaluaon lasts approximately 4 -5 hours. The main reason they are so long is to assess a person’s capacity for an 8 hour work day. Paent responsibility The paent will be asked to provide their best effort to a level that they could sustain on a daily basis. Insurance FCE’s are covered by work comp insurance, motor vehicle and some private insurance. Occasionally, Vocaonal Rehabilitaon, employers or lawyers will pay for an FCE. Workability also offers an affordable self pay opon for those without insurance coverage. Scheduling an FCE Phone, fax or email your request for an FCE to the numbers listed below. Request should include; physician referral, recent medical notes, paent contact and billing informaon. ERGONOMIC EVALUATIONS Ergonomic evaluaons are used to address work pracce or equipment issues that could be contribung to discomfort someone is experiencing at work. Evaluaons are performed at the person’s place of work and generally take 30 to 60 minutes. Workers compensaon, private insurance and Medicaid covers these evaluaons. Also, employers frequently pay for these evaluaons. RETURN TO WORK (Injured Worker) Return to Work programs are used to assist with transioning an injured employee back to work. Workability has developed a unique RTW program called “Work in Progress”. Essenally, it’s a hybrid program that combines elements of work hardening, ergonomics and job coaching with the opon of physician and psych support, if needed. The whole program takes place at the employee’s place of work as opposed to a rehab clinic. The employee’s work capacity and any worksite barriers to their return are idenfied; a detailed plan is developed, signed by all pares and overseen by the occupaonal therapist. Mark Coleman, OTR/L Occupaonal Therapist
