Day 1: Return-to-Work Philosophy, Industrial Rehabilitation, and FCE Foundations
By the end of Day 1, participants will be able to:
- Describe OccuPro's return-to-work philosophy and its role in improving outcomes for injured workers
- Differentiate between kinesiophysical and psychophysical testing approaches, consistency of effort, and reliability of pain
- Identify the characteristics of a successful industrial rehabilitation and workers' compensation program
- Apply industrial rehabilitation documentation standards that support quality outcomes and stakeholder communication
- Explain the purpose, types, and applications of functional capacity evaluations within the return-to-work process
- Calculate sitting and standing tolerances and incorporate findings into return-to-work recommendations
- Perform an effective intake process, including interviews, consent procedures, and collection of functional information
- Utilize job demands analysis (JDA) data, Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) information, and employer interviews to develop accurate, job-specific testing requirements.
- Apply evidence-based methods to evaluate consistency of effort and determine the reliability of pain reporting
- Perform appropriate musculoskeletal testing procedures based on referral needs and impairment rating requirements
Day 2: FCE Performance and Return-to-Work Testing
By the end of Day 2, participants will be able to:
- Perform grip, pinch, fine and gross motor coordination testing while evaluating consistency of effort and functional ability
- Assess non-material handling activities including reaching, walking, bending, squatting, kneeling, balance, and mobility tasks
- Determine maximal safe occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling abilities using evidence-based methodologies
- Incorporate job simulation testing into functional capacity evaluations to improve validity and workplace relevance
- Evaluate frequent and continuous material handling abilities using objective performance data and physiological monitoring
- Determine physical demand levels using standardized material handling and functional testing results
- Evaluate climbing, sitting, standing, and positional tolerance abilities for return-to-work recommendations
- Complete comprehensive FCE documentation, including consistency of effort, pain reliability, physical demand levels, and return-to-work recommendations.
- Interpret test findings and communicate functional abilities using objective, defensible documentation
- Develop clinical reasoning skills necessary to make safe and accurate work capacity determinations
Day 3: Work Conditioning, Progress Notes, and Program Implementation
By the end of Day 3, participants will be able to:
- Explain the purpose and clinical application of functional progress notes and functional discharge summaries
- Perform functional progress notes and utilize objective functional data to guide treatment decisions
- Develop individualized treatment plans and measurable goals for injured workers participating in rehabilitation programs
- Progress patients through return-to-work rehabilitation using evidence-based treatment progression strategies
- Design and implement work hardening and work conditioning programs that address job-specific functional deficits
- Administer work hardening and work conditioning evaluations and interpret findings to guide treatment planning
- Apply job simulation and work tolerance activities to prepare injured workers for safe return to productive employment
- Utilize documentation, billing, and operational strategies that support a profitable workers' compensation program
- Implement systems to increase workers' compensation referrals and strengthen relationships with referral sources
- Develop a complete framework for launching or expanding a successful return-to-work rehabilitation program