Assessment Services

Assessment services include

• Functional Capacity Evaluations
• Worksite assessment
• Job analysis
• Pre-employment Screening
• Ergonomic Consultancy
• Independent Clinical Assessments

Northcare offers these services from four locations; Salisbury, Wayville, Hallet Cove and Mt Gambier.

Functional Capacity Evaluation

Physical work capacity is of central importance to the management of a safe and successful return to work for injured individuals. Functional Capacity Evaluation involves work simulation to assist in the identification of an individual's capabilities (safe work limits). In conjunction with a structured return to work program, an FCE ensures an injured worker is placed at minimal risk and minimises rehabilitation and return to work costs.

Northcare operates the Blankenship fully computerised FCE system.

The following capacities are assessed:

• Material handling: lifting / lowering / pushing / pulling capacity in terms of weight, range, frequency and body postures
• Functional flexibility - reaching, stooping, squatting, kneeling and twisting.
• Sustained position tolerance - sustained work in reaching, stooping, crouching and kneeling.
• Use of appropriate body mechanics.
• Sitting, standing and walking tolerances.
• Aerobic fitness
• Clerical tasks / word processing.
• Upper limb assessment.

Blankenship FCE system

The Blankenship Functional Capacity Evaluation system offers:

• Computerised recording and reporting of results, ensuring:
  1. objectivity
  2. accuracy and
  3. reproducibility
• Assessment of behavioural (psychosocial) factors which may be affecting an individual’s presentation and work ability. This includes:
  1. test validity (effort & cooperation in testing)
  2. symptom exaggeration
  3. non-organic signs
• An interactive approach, where sub-maximal effort is questioned and VALID results are invariably obtained. In this way an individual’s capacity for work is maximised.
• Matching of the FCE results to the Physical demand of known work tasks (WSA/DOT/ASCO).
• Reduced time and cost in comparison to other FCE systems, yet superior quality.
• Simple, easy to read and understand reports.
• Physiotherapy expertise in assessing normal and abnormal movement patterns.
• FCE conclusions and recommendations that are clinically relevant.

Equipment used:

• Blankenship fce System
• Static lifting platform and computer linked force gauges
• Lifting boxes and platforms for dynamic lifting assessment
• Trolley / sled
• Jamar Hand Dynamometer.
• Pinch gauge
• Heart rate monitor

Pre-employment Screening

Pre-employment screening is widely recognised as an important part of injury prevention.

Functional Capacity Evaluation is a tool used in the pre-employment screening process.

Benefits to the Employer:

• Ensures functional competence for work tasks resulting in less injuries
• Provides record of pre-employment capacity affording some protection against false claims of injury
• Record of pre-employment capacity helps to identify when a subsequent injury has recovered (i.e. return to pre-injury state)
• Able to compare results to population ‘norms’ (percentile of strength etc).