ASSESSMENTS

WORK SITE ASSESSMENTS

A Work Site Visit refers to a visit to workplace in order to evaluate the suitability of a job and/or the environment for an injured individual for the purpose of remaining or returning to work after an accident takes place.
The following are things that are taken into consideration during the visit:

• Review of work tasks
• Confirmation of the injured person’s job demands
• Examination of simple job modifications and return to work options
• Consultation with the employer and other relevant stakeholders, to establish an appropriate return to work plan
• Communication/education of the employer regarding return to work opportunities
• Ongoing support of graduated return to work plan

Worksite Assessment findings can then be integrated to match the needs of the employer and their organization to identify whether the individual can manage the essential tasks of the job or, alternately, to identify a suitable vocational rehabilitation program that seeks to improve productivity and satisfaction.

For situations where a client is at work and experiencing symptom aggravation, or is unable to progress in his or her duties or hours, SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC’S providers will entail help with a plan that includes job coaching, problem solving, education on ergonomics, and symptom management strategies.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES EVALUATION

A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is a combined set of tests, practices and observations to establish the ability of a person who has sustained an injury to function in a variety of conditions like employment, in an objective manner. Physicians change diagnoses based on FCEs. These evaluations are often required by insurers when an individual has applied for disability benefits.

An FCE can be used to determine the suitability to work following an extended period of medical leave or identify changes to employee workload, or modifications to working conditions.

During Most FCEs at SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC, the following measurements are also taken:

• Lifting power
• Push and pull power
• How long one can stand or walk
• Flexibility and reaching
• Grasping and holding capabilities
• Bending capabilities
• Balance capabilities

CHRONIC ASSESSMENTS

The intention of Chronic Pain assessment is to estimate the person’s levels of psychological and psychosocial symptoms of a chronic pain condition, functional limitation and disability in order to determine the person’s steadiness of healing and give further rehabilitation recommendations. If the pain or injury causing the pain is treated early it can be reversed, but if delayed it could become permanent and as harmful and destructive to the person’s well being as any incurable disease.

Our therapists in SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC understand the importance to remember that chronic pain has as much to do with a patient’s perception of the pain as it does with the actual physical aspect of the pain. Patients with long-term back, neck, shoulder, leg, arm, hip, knee, elbow or foot pain, headaches and migraines are often faced with chronic pain challenges and we are committed to assist individuals in their path to recover and wellbeing.

NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION

A neurological examination is the assessment of sensory neuron and motor responses of a person, especially reflexes, to determine whether the nervous system has sustained damage during an accident or injury. This assessment typically includes a physical examination and a review of the patient's medical history. A neurological examination may include the patient’s medical history: questions concerning your symptoms and condition, an evaluation of neurological function, diagnostic tests, electrodiagnostic tests and blood Blood tests.

The neurological examination is divided into various components; each focuses on a different part of the nervous system as follows:

• Mental status
• Cranial nerves
• Motor system
• Sensory system
• Deep tendon reflexes
• Coordination and the cerebellum
• Gait

At SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC the neurological examination is conducted throughout a series of simple questions and tests that provide the therapist with crucial information about the nervous system. It is an inexpensive, non invasive way to determine what might be wrong.

SPEECH THERAPY ASSESSMENTS

Speech-language assessment is a complex process. At SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC we take pride in assessing, describing, and interpreting an individual's communication ability, which entails acquiring the necessary information throughout diverse techniques.

A comprehensive speech-language pathology assessment requires:

• Case history, including medical status, education, socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds
• Patient and family interview
• Review of auditory, visual, motor, and cognitive status
• Standardized and/or non-standardized measures of specific aspects of speech, spoken and non-spoken language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing function, including observations and analysis of work samples
• Identification of potential for effective intervention strategies and compensations

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS

Psychological assessment is a process which involves diverse techniques to help the therapist to understand an individual and their behavior, personality and capabilities. At SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC these assessments are performed by a licensed psychologist. Those undergoing this process will also go through a full medical examination, to rule out a medical, disease or for the individual’s symptoms. It’s often helpful to have this done prior to meeting with the psychologist.

Information is obtained through the following:

• Norm-Referenced Tests
• Interviews
• Observations
• Informal Assessment

Recommendations are provided based on all the assessment results and from discussion with peers, family, and others who may shed light on the person’s behavior in different settings. Major discrepancies among the findings must be resolved before any diagnostic decisions or recommendations for treatment are made.

IN-HOME ASSESSMENTS

In-Home assessments conducted by our therapists at SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC are designed to evaluate if the person injured in a motor vehicle accident has difficulty with day to day tasks like housekeeping activities, and to determine if any special devices are beneficial to assist during the process of healing. Our therapists will determine to what extent their injuries will impair their ability to perform these tasks.

Throughout the visit the individual can expect the assessment of proper body mechanics, learning strategies for pacing and energy conservation as well as focusing in the back and neck sparing techniques that are being implemented by the injured person. This assessment will also explore the possible need for attendant care and care giving assistance.

The information will be gathered by in-depth interviews, functional examinations, and observation of the injured person’s abilities to complete activities in their home environment which includes personal care needs.

ORTHOPAEDIC ASSESSMENTS

SCARBOROUGH REHABILITATION CLINIC INC focuses initially on patients requiring orthopaedic assessment/consultation.