Occupational Therapy

Functional Capacity Evaluation

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a series of standardized physical tests used to assess an individual’s functional capacities for work. The FCE is typically used either to determine if the person has the capacity to return to their original job or to assess a person's potential ability to perform a different job. The FCE can also provide any expected permanent physical limitations and abilities. The FCE can be customized to assess a person’s capacity for many different jobs.

Job Site Assessment/ Physical Demand Analysis

A job site assessment is performed to evaluate an employee’s job demands and the physical activity factors necessary to perform each task. Written Recommendations are provided regarding approach to task, ergonomic design, or return-to-work programs.

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Ergonomic Assessment

Ergonomic assessments analyze and identify the physical demands, risk factors and hazards that have the potential to cause discomfort and/or injury to a worker while performing their job duties. The assessments provide recommendations to eliminate and reduce risk factors and minimizing potential injury risk to employees.

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Future Cost of Care

A Future Cost of Care assessment is a comprehensive report identifying the services and equipment required that would enable an individual to maximally reach their pre-morbid level of functioning and quality of life. The analysis contains a justification and cost analysis of any services and equipment required. The report is based upon published standards of practice, comprehensive assessments, data analysis, and research, which provides an organized and concise plan for current and future needs. It also outlines the reasonable and necessary costs associated with these needs for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic health care needs.

We complete Future Cost of Care Assessments in a way that reflects the needs of the catastrophically ill or injured to ensure that the plan adequately funds the client from the onset of disability through life.

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Neuro-Vocational Rehabilitation

Individualized Neuro-Vocational Rehabilitation services are offered to individuals who have sustained a head injury. These services include cognitive rehabilitation, situational assessments, and job coaching assistance.

Many aspects are being considered while providing services to head injured individuals such as cognitive, behavioral, psychological, physical abilities and limitations, and home environment effects on clients and their families. We work and plan together with the client and all involved parties. Descriptions of available services are as follows:

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Home Assessments

This assessment is conducted at an individual’s home. This assessment allows an Occupational Therapist (OT) to assess the claimant’s ability for personal care, housekeeping, home maintenance, transportation and community management, and to meet functional requirements for activities of daily living. The OT makes recommendations related to safety concerns, home layout modifications, assistive devices or external assistance. 

On occupational Therapist is also able meet and assess individuals before discharge from the hospital in preparation for successful transition from the hospital to the individual’s residence.

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Cognitive Rehabilitation:

Cognitive rehabilitation is a process in which an individual who is disabled by injury or disease works with health professionals to alleviate cognitive insufficiencies. Our four main approaches to cognitive rehabilitation include: cognitive retraining through exercises or stimulation; strategies derived from cognitive neuro psychology; cognitive psychology and behavioral psychology; strategies that combine techniques and holistic approaches that address cognitive, social, and emotional aspects of brain injury.

Recent research suggests that the holistic approach may be best for people with non-progressive brain damage to improve independence, employability, and quality of life.

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Life Skills Development

Our professionals work together with an individual teaching and providing them with essential life strategies, for example money management and home skills management, as well as assist clients to gain control over behavioral challenges associated with their brain injury. This helps clients to achieve higher levels of independence in the areas of employment, education, meaningful daily activities and relationships with family and others.

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Community Reintegration:

The literature emphasizes that persistent cognitive impairments frequently impede successful community reintegration. We believe that community reintegration should emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, which also includes peers and family, in an attempt to close the gap between treatment activities and functional competence in the individual’s natural environment. Our primary focus of community reintegration is on what the individual with TBI needs to achieve for returning to work, school, vocational and social interests. Ongoing assessment of progress and modification of goals is critical to the clients’ success.

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Work Assessments / Work Experience

The work assessment offers an individual an opportunity to learn the job duties in a non intrusive manner. A vocational rehabilitation consultant works together with the employer and the client trying to assist the client in determining their vocational strengths and weaknesses. The work assessment also helps the vocational consultant in the development of a vocational rehabilitation plan for a return to work.

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Situational Assessments

At the beginning of the situational assessment the vocational consultant assesses the client’s vocational skills for specific job duties. Once the assessment is concluded the vocational consultant develops strategies for work specific skills development and works directly with the client in addressing any return to work barriers. The situational assessment provides the client and the referral source with a written summary of the client’s limitations and abilities including recommendations for work reintegration. In addition, it comments on the client’s ability to return to paid employment.

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