Movement Science 2 (Unit 3) Flashcards
What is Functional Capacity Assessment/Evaluation?
A detailed examination and evaluation that objectively measures the patients current level of function, primarily within the context of the demands of competitive employment.
Basically looking at the patients ability to do their job and the jobs impact on the patient
What is Industrial Medicine (aka Occupational Medicine)?
The branch of medicine concerned with the maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of diseases and accidental injuries in the workplace
Where did Industrial Medicine come from?
- Workers Compensation (WC) becomes a key issue:
–Early on, workers comp. was growing at same rate as medical cost
–Later on, workers comp. cost and claims increased
Why was Functional Capacity Evaluations introduced to Workers Comp.?
To help objectively measure a patients level of function within the text of the individuals work environment
With Industrial medicine, what are the steps an injured worker goes through to get back to work?
- After the work injury or work-related illness they are sent for treatment, either:
–Acute care (hospital; clinic)
–Rehabilitation (in/out patient) - Then they go through a course of industrial medicine here they’ll do:
–Evaluation (Job analysis {site/task} and functional assessment {Whole body})
–Treatment (Work hardening {rehab specific to work}, this resulted in formation of pain centers)
–Evaluation (Exit assessment (are they ready for RTW, then the do Special Programs)
Special Programs (Made for prevention): Evaluation- pre-employment screenings and job analysis (site/task) and Education- Body mechanics and prevention of overuse syndrome
Through the eyes of the employee, what are 2 perspectives that should be taken to account with their injury?
1) They want to be back to normal ASAP
2) Issue of secondary gain
- With workers comp. a person only receives a % of previous salary; “checks rarely come on time”
Through the eyes of the employee, what are some of the Financial considerations that should be taken into account with their injury?
- Firstly the patient is injured
- They are receiving less money
- Checks are not on time
- Their bills are still due
- Finances can cause increased stress in the household
Through the eyes of the employee, what are some of Household/Family considerations that should be taken into account with their injury?
- The person’s identity changes due to changes in injury status:
–Staying at home
–No longer primary bread winner
–Can’t pay bills - There is pressure to get better; get a job
Through the eyes of the employer, what are some considerations that should be taken to account with the injured patient?
- 2nd most affected person
- Must pay the employee
- Must (re)train a replacement
- Must pay for (re)training…more cost
- Increased paperwork (claims)
- Concern ie. permanent disability
- Must make “reasonable accommodations”
Through the eyes of the employer, what are some Problems that should be taken to account pertaining to the injured patient? If a lawyer is involved what is there job in the situation?
- People will begin to point fingers at each other on how and why the worker got injured (Often employee blames unsafe work environment)
- No ground work for communication
- Increased likelihood for retaining a lawyer
The lawyers agenda is to win for their side
- PT/OT has good chance of being deposed
With a workers injury what is the role of the Physician?
- Utilizes the “medical model”
- Prescribe med, then ask them to return is a couple weeks
- Problem: MD communicates with employee/employer with medical terminology…not on their level…confusion
What is the role of the Rehabilitation Consultant? What should they consider?
- They are the interpreter from the medical community …to work place, for the insurance company
- They are the patient advocates
- Determines # of visits, what MD to go to, and whether insurance will pay for a 2nd opinion
They should consider:
- Employee’s perspective of rehab consultant
- Insurance companies dont make money, if they spend money
What is the role of the Government?
- They set the standards in the workplace
- They limit the amount an employee can sue medical professionals
- Implications for PTs, you need to carry malpractice insurance
What is the role of the Physical Therapist?
- Being good communicators and being professional towards the worker (employee), the employer, the lawyer, the rehab consultant and the doctor
- Being hands on with patients…establish rapport/trust
What does it mean to look at someone’s Functional Capacity?
We must look at the persons ability to perform a job or the jobs impact on or requirement of the person
