Functional Capacity Evaluations & Pre-Employment Screening

What are Functional Capacity Evaluations?

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) are highly specialized services that implement extensive physical and evaluative testing to determine the physical capabilities and limits of a patient. These evaluations are used to measure strength, endurance, positional tolerance, and daily physical demands. This form of testing is typically done for injured employees, to determine the root of the injury and how additional damage can be prevented in the future. The data gathered is an objective way to define what the injured employee’s limits currently are, and how they can be improved upon. Our innovative care strategies at Quinn Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief. For more information regarding Functional Capacity Evaluations, contact Quinn Physical Therapy today.

What do Functional Capacity Evaluations do?

The main purpose of FCEs is to answer eight distinct questions:

  1. Can this patient return to work safely?
  2. How severe is the patient’s pain?
  3. What type of job can this patient physically handle?
  4. What are the patient’s safe lifting tolerances?
  5. What work accommodations could be made to allow this patient to return to work?
  6. What is the next appropriate step in regards to rehabilitation?
  7. What are the patient’s cardiovascular and physical endurance limitations for working?
  8. What are the patient’s positional tolerances for standing, sitting, walking?

Functional Capacity Evaluations work to assist several people involved in the process, including the injured employee, the employer, the physician, the insurance company, the attorney (if applicable), the case manager (if applicable), and the vocational consultant (if applicable).

An FCE is conducted in order to determine a safe return to work, OR in some cases, they can be done as deemed necessary by a hiring manager to establish the functional capabilities of an employee before beginning work. It can also help in determining any liabilities for short-term or long-term disabilities that may have been sustained by the injured employee. 

The main features of a Functional Capacity Evaluation include:

  • Certified FCE evaluators
  • Quality assurance monitoring
  • Peer-reviewed research
  • Standardized functional testing protocols
  • A national network

What are the benefits of Functional Capacity Evaluations?

While FCEs have several benefits associated with them, the main focus is on helping injured employees heal and return to work. These tests help in determining the level of participation in physical demands that is appropriate for the patient, therefore reducing the probability of re-injury. They can also help in determining what areas of physical improvement the patient can work on, in order to make their workday more comfortable and efficient.

These tests are scientifically developed, ensuring an objective result. In addition to helping patients heal and understand their physical boundaries, they can also provide crucial information to the employer, as well. FCEs can help an employer understand what safety standards should be set for employees, in order to reduce the risk of injury and workers’ compensation claims. Overall, Functional Capacity Evaluations can help in making sure the workplace is a safe and pain-free environment for everyone.

Have You Heard of Employment Screening?

When hiring new people to work for you, it is important to think about employment screening. Employment screening can help determine if a person is capable of meeting the demands of the job, and can also pinpoint any areas of weakness that a potential new hire can strengthen.

According to BTE,

“BTE works together with you to pinpoint your biggest challenges, and turn them into opportunities for improving safety, workforce wellness, and major cost reduction. Whether you need a focused single service, or could benefit from help in several areas – BTE has you covered. Today and into the future. All fully customized by the industry’s experts to fit your specific needs.”

Essentially, employment screening helps you hire the right people and, more importantly, how to maintain their safety and prevent workplace injuries.

If you are looking for new hires for your company, give employment screening a try. Contact Quinn Physical Therapy to consult with a Lafayette physical therapist to learn more.

How will employment screening benefit my employees and myself?

Employment screening has 4 main benefits, according to BTE. These include:

  • Hiring the right people for the right jobs through objective testing
  • Keeping incumbent workers healthy and active
  • Providing early intervention and treatment
  • Expediting safe Return to Work when injuries do occur

In fact, employment screening helps in reducing injury rates by 50% or more. As a hiring executive, you have some important questions to answer, including “How can I find the best person for the job?” “How can I make my workplace a more comfortable and reliable place for my workers?” and, most importantly, “How can I make sure my employees are happy and safe at work?”

Employment screening will help you answer all of those questions and more – essentially, overall it will make your workplace a better place to be!

Interested in learning more? Contact Quinn Physical Therapy

Our Lafayette, LA physical therapists can help you learn more about employment screening and how it will benefit both you and your employees. Contact Quinn Physical Therapy today to discuss the many aspects of employment screening and all that you can gain from it!