If you have been unfortunate enough to be injured at work, or have an employee lodge a claim against your company or you are an Insurer or Barrister trying to establish the validity of an injury claim, you could benefit from a medico-legal report which establishes the reality of the injury sustained.
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) Report is objective, independent and lays out the facts of an injured individual’s actual impairment or disability. This helps inform the court, employer or the insurer of the expected costs, loss of income and future capacity to return to the original work or qualify for alternative work.
Importantly, an FCE quantifies the disability and sets out the rehabilitation needs in order to increase function and work capacity where possible by quantifying impairment according to the “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, American Medical Association, 6th Edition, 2009”, a realistic calculation can be made to award compensation to an individual. Spurious or exaggerated claims are avoided and realistic settlements made, which is fair to all concerned. Permanent impairment can be quantified and informed decisions as to future costs, needs or services appropriately considered in the settlement.
An FCE usually takes 4-5 hours to perform. The data gathered is analysed and a detailed report compiled which helps in expediting case closure. It brings a realistic opinion to the fore, early on in the settlement process, which decreases settlement times and reduces the development of chronicity, where delay in closure can prolong recovery.
- Employers have found it beneficial in facilitating return to work.
- Insurers are happy that income benefit payments are appropriately made.
- Barristers are assured their client’s disability has been determined accurately not underplayed or over embellished.
This process is objective, performed to validity criteria which guarantees accuracy.
Annette Shanahan has over 18 years experience of performing these evaluations and over 30 years experience as a Clinician, Lecturer and Mentor, as a Specialist Chartered Physiotherapist and Functional Capacity Evaluator.
An FCE involves a process between the Injured Person and Evaluator which provides:
- Detailed Disability Questionnaires, to determine the impact of the injury.
- History of condition, treatment, medication, procedures, symptoms, current ability, limitations in work and hobbies.
- Neuromusculoskeletal – full evaluation – range of motion, strength, flexibility, endurance.
- Behavioural Profile – non-organic signs, attitudes and beliefs about pain and disability.
- Occasional and Frequent Material Handling and Lifting Tests, Push and Pulling.
- Body Mechanics, Postural Assessment.
- Non-material Handling Tests – climbing tests, driving capacity tests, balance tests.
- Hand Function Tests, dexterity, co-ordination, (hand-eye) grip strength, pinch tests.
- Cardiovascular fitness tests – measure of aerobic fitness, heart rates and BP monitoring.
- Determines Work and Functional Capacity and defines the Physical Demand Classification level of the job and the person being evaluated.
The results are objective and the FCE process identifies the consistency of effort so that the actual disability or impairment can be determined.
This is a valuable process which helps the individual to fully understand their limitations and the exact rehabilitation needs are established.
If you have any questions relating to how an FCE can help you, call today for more information.
Phone 00353-614-17066 or
Contact us by clicking HERE
We look forward to hearing from you.
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