As the leading provider of comprehensive musculoskeletal care in the Mid-Atlantic, The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO) continues to innovate by transforming how it approaches workers’ compensation. With 28 divisions and growing, CAO recognized the need to elevate their industrial services to better serve both patients and employers—and they’ve found a strong partner in OccuPro.
Brent Rader, DPT, Director of Industrial Services at CAO, has been leading the charge. Initially, the goal was to train therapists on workers’ compensation basics, but it quickly became clear that a deeper shift was needed. “We realized it wasn’t just about knowledge—it was about creating a system that could grow with us,” Rader shared.
Over the past three years, CAO’s industrial services have expanded from three to thirteen locations. Much of that success stems from an internal cultural shift and a new mindset around treating work comp cases—not as a burden, but as a strategic opportunity. “We’re working to create a seamless process from front to back that integrates the needs of everyone – stakeholders, providers, and patients,” Rader explained.
That’s where OccuPro has made a real difference. With tools that quantify job demands and track functional progress objectively, OccuPro gives The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics therapists a structured, evidence-based framework to follow. “Therapists hit the ground running after OccuPro’s live training course,” Rader noted. “It’s reshaped how they treat—not just work comp patients, but everyone.”
Implementation has been smooth, thanks in large part to the support from the OccuPro team. “The [Functional Capacity Evaluation and Return-to-Work] 4.0 transition has been great. OccuPro genuinely wants feedback and act on it,” he said. “The biggest hurdle hasn’t been OccuPro—it’s been evolving clinic culture.”
The reports take the guesswork out. Plus, we’re seeing faster responses to reauthorizations because of stronger trust from stakeholders.
That cultural evolution is paying off. Reports generated through OccuPro are tailored to what payors, adjusters, and case managers actually need: objective evidence of whether a patient is progressing and when they’re ready to return to work. “The reports take the guesswork out. Plus, we’re seeing faster responses to reauthorizations because of stronger trust from stakeholders,” Rader said.
The biggest impact? CAO clinicians are becoming stronger providers. With a clearer understanding of functional limitations and job demands, their treatment is more targeted, effective, and rewarding.
“If you recognize workers’ comp as its own sub-specialty,” Rader concluded, “OccuPro becomes the glue that holds the process together—advocating for patients, streamlining communication, and proving value at every step.”
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