Happy Groundhog Day!
When doing Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) some clinicians and FCE vendors pull a bit of a testing protocol from here and a bit of another from there, slap it together and call it a defensible, functional test. While that might get the job done, is it an accurate test? And what makes a test accurate anyway?
An FCE is not an easy assessment to perform. The evaluator is assessing complex movement patterns that occur over a matter of seconds. Each task is evaluated for a brief period and then the patient’s abilities must be extrapolated to the 8-hour day. The secret to making those extrapolations accurately and performing a defensible FCE is using a system that is well-designed.
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How do I unravel the secrets and find an FCE that is well-designed and evidence-based?
Features to look for…
I can’t tell you how many times, when I’ve recommended a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) or a Return-to-Work Physical Abilities Test, the question is raised:
Ever wonder if the work comp patient that you’re discharging is really capable of returning to work? Does he/she have the physical abilities to do the job?
Or have you ever felt the physician was holding the patient out of work too long or sending them back to early?
Champion your industrial athletes!
Industrial athletes are often seen as the underdog of the PT world.
The work comp system can be confusing and frustrating to deal with – if you don’t fully understand how it works. The stakeholders and processes are different than for patients insured with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
After you wrap up your outpatient therapy, does the patient still have MD restrictions that prevent return to work? Maybe you’re at a loss for what to do next because the patient’s gained full range and normal strength.
What can you uncover with functional awareness?
