Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

The measurement and analysis of a person’s ability to safely perform a number of job related functions, such as lifting, pushing, carrying, stooping, grasping, etc. The results are used to determine a persons safe working level for the purpose of job placement, injury prevention, or rehabilitation. Assessment can be performed over 1-day, 2-days, or 5-days depending on the questions that need to be addressed. All FCE’s include a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation prior to functional testing.

Ergonomic Assessment and Implementation of Ergonomic Recommendations

Similar to a job site analysis but geared more to solving ergonomic difficulties at the job site and eliminating risk factors for injury. The assessment can lead to recommendations on positioning, equipment, and other ergonomic principles. Onsite education is always provided.

Should the referral source wish to have the Occupational Therapist implement recommendations put forward in the initial assessment, Fitzpatrick’s Occupational Therapy Prof. Corp. is happy to go forward and implement the recommendations as well.

Activities of Daily Living Assessments

A functional examination of an individual’s ability to perform the activities of daily living outside of the work place. Areas assessed may include, housework, meal preparation, self-care, etc. Individuals that are assessed may be limited by physical, psychological, or cognitive disability.

Splint fabrication

The construction of hand base splints is a specialty of Occupational Therapy. The splinting may include static or dynamic splints that can be used to treat a host of condition and may be fabricated using various materials from leather to plastics.

Hand Therapy

Biomechanical treatment of both acute and chronic hand injuries are a service provided by Fitzpatrick’s Occupational Therapy Prof. Corp. The treatment often incorporates functional conditioning to improve the functional use of the hand.

Functional Ability Evaluation (FAE)

A shortened form of the Functional Capacity Evaluation. Demands that are assessed are job or injury specific and are more often used to assess progress being made during a functional rehabilitation program. The functional ability evaluation does not include with it a formal neuromusculoskeletal screening, such as is part of the functional capacity evaluation.

Gradual Return to Work Planning and Implementation

The design, implementation, and monitoring of programs that are used to return individuals to a pre-injury work level. The program may include job/home modifications and/or counselling on returning to a specific work environment.

Job Demands Analysis

An on site analysis of the demands, environmental conditions, and work stressors that must be met in order that a worker may return to employment, and meet those demands safely. The job site analysis is often used in conjunction with a functional capacity evaluation to match a workers current functional ability with the physical demands of a job.

Geriatric Assessments

Several different types of Geriatric Assessment options are available including a stand-alone activities of daily living assessment in which the specific needs of a client may be assessed in a clinic setting. Secondly, an activities of daily living/ safety home assessment is an option in which activities of daily living are assessed in an individuals actual living environment. Thirdly, a standardized cognitive/perceptional screening is available in which individuals are assessed on their functional ability to perform cognitive or perceptual tasks that occur in every day activities.

Expert Opinion Services

Fitzpatrick’s Occupational Therapy Prof. Corp. will offer expert opinions in a number of areas in Occupational Therapy such as; functional capacity evaluation or other areas of Occupational Therapy in which we have expertise. Ryan Fitzpatrick is recognized as an expert witness in Functional Capacity Evaluation by the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan.

Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluation (CFCE)

While including many components of a standard FCE the CFCE includes standardized testing of cognition, perception and emotion. The results are again used to determine a persons safe working level for the purpose of job placement, injury prevention, or rehabilitation but not only in the realm of physical capacity. Clients with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries or mental health diagnosis are the typical clientele for this assessment. Assessment can be performed over 1-day, 2-days, or 5-days depending on the questions that need to be addressed.

Functional Cognitive Assessment

An assessment that addresses areas such as memory, attention, reasoning, and verbal ability—all cognitive abilities you need to function optimally in everyday life. To do so we use a number of published cognitive assessments including the leading cognitive assessment platform, CBS Health which has been validated by decades of scientific evidence, to quickly measure brain health. It’s not so much a test rather it’s a checkup on how you’re doing today, like a blood pressure cuff for your brain to help identify areas where assistance may be required. The depth of the assessment can be tailored to the concerns of the client or referrer.

Job Coaching/Job Shadowing

This service involves and Occupational Therapist shadowing a worker while he/she performs the job duties that he/she would normally be doing on the job site. The job coaching/ job shadowing is often used to help identify safer working postures or alternate ways of performing tasks that are safer and less harmful to the client. Often the job coaching or job shadowing may be used if a worker is experiencing symptoms that are gradually increasing, and may be used as an option to try to decrease a workers symptoms rather than have him/her stop working and enter a treatment program.

Mobility Assessment

The assessment will focus on the mobility needs of the client and will result in a recommendation for anything from a cane or a walker to a wheelchair (with specific documentation) or power scooter, depending on the clients needs and ability level.