Industrial Rehabilitation Division

Welcome to Orthopedic and Sports Therapy Institute's Industrial Rehabilitation Division. The Industrial Rehabilitation Division is comprised of various programs that the clinics of OSTI offer, to support and service the industrial community in which our clinics operate. The programs are geared to help employers prevent injury or the repeat of injury in the workplace, return workers back to work safely, and hire safe and qualified candidates all while reducing workers compensation costs, insurance premiums, and employee turnover. Below is a detailed list of services offered through the Industrial Rehabilitation Division.

WorkSTEPS Functional Employment Testing Program
WorkSTEPS® was developed by occupational clinicians in response to industry needs. The WorkSTEPS® Model is a reliable, medically/ legally defensible testing program that conforms fully with the EEOC and ADA.

Employers benefit by matching the physical demand levels of the specific job to the physical capabilities of the employee; which reduces injury incidence and decreases employee turnover.

The WorkSTEPS® Model also assists in eliminating fraudulent claims and in establishing a basis for legitimately controlling bonafide claims. The information is retained for comparison to post-injury employee data and establishes a basis for developing rehabilitation and return to work programs.

WorkSTEPS® providers are nationwide, provide testing for both small and large companies, and have performed over one million functional employment tests! Below is a list of testing services offered.

Pre-offer Agility Testing
A 30-minute test that measures a candidate's job capability in order to match their performance with the essential functions of the job. No medical information can be collected for this test.

Post-offer/ Pre-employment Testing
This is a 1½ to 2 hour test. Medical questions and several medical tests are included to objectively quantify pre-existing conditions and cumulative traumas to determine their effect upon "significant and impending" risk as it relates to the position in question.

Fit For Duty Testing
Fit For Duty Test results will include information regarding the employee's physical demands as it relates to the employment position. The scope of the exam provides the necessary information to determine whether the employee can do the essential functions of the job or work without posing a direct threat.

Upper Extremity Testing
This test takes approximately 30 minutes to administer as part of either the Post Offer Comprehensive Test or Fit For Duty Test. It may be used independently for positions that do not entail heavy material handling tasks. It is used to determine capability as it relates to job function. It gives results based upon medical risk criteria.

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)
The FCE is a medical test to measure an employee's function post-injury. The WorkSTEPS® FCE is designed to follow the same protocols of the employment test to compare baseline data, document existing impairments, prove consistency, and create realistic objective treatment goals and return to work recommendations. The WorkSTEPS® FCE is also automated and includes criteria to evaluate symptom magnification, inappropriate illness behavior, and validity performance.

Other Industrial Rehabilitation Services

Work Conditioning Program
A day in Work Conditioning is set up much like a work day. Workers come in at a scheduled time and receive their assignments. The assignments consist of a combination of warm-up exercises, aerobic exercises, resistance weight exercises, and job simulation activities. Each worker is also provided with an individualized exercise program designed to improve movement and strengthen specific body parts. Workers keep track of their daily progress as they perform their assigned activities. Assignments are increased as workers become stronger and more flexible. Workers also participate in educational activities designed to increase their knowledge regarding injury and how to prevent a

re-injury. The program manager and worker together will establish goals. Goals will be modified weekly. The ultimate goal in Work Conditioning is that the worker will be able to safely return to his/her previous job. If this is shown to be unsafe, then the goal is for the worker to achieve his/her best possible physical condition.

On-site Job Coaching
An effective way to ensure "high-risk," previously injured employees return to work safely after rehabilitation or modified duty. This on-site, one-to-one visit will include instructions on safe/proper lifting mechanics, alternative work methods and job specific stretching and exercise.

On-site Functional Ergonomic Job Analysis
Identification of work risk factors as potential contributors to musculoskeletal injuries. Specific recommendations through weights, measures, ergonomic tool utilization and alternative design and work flow patterns. Recommendations will include both ergonomic changes and implementation of administrative controls. Affirms to EEOC, ADA and OSHA.

Body Mechanics Training and Education
he training sessions will instruct employees on proper biomechanics and work methods, personal protective equipment, ergonomics, job specific stretching and exercise as well as educate them on risk factors and anatomy/physiology of musculoskeletal injuries.

Ergonomic/ Safety Tool Box Training
Helps to early, identify potential "high-risk" job demands while creating solutions and positive outcomes in preventing injury. Promotes safety, quality and morale while lowering cost.

Job Analysis/ Job Descriptions

This analysis will be required prior to any training, testing or educating current and future employees. Test includes on-site analysis of daily essential functions and physical demand levels for specific departments. The analysis includes formal weights, measures, frequencies, repetitions and forces required as well as interviews/ interactions with employee to capture all aspects of the job.

Assists employer in returning a restricted employee back to work in a quick and safe manner

Job Placement
Perform case reviews and outline plans for future injury prevention. Participate in safety meetings, meetings with management and case managers. Meetings with doctors and coordinate care for employees as needed with difficult cases. Health and wellness.

Benefits of the Industrial Rehabilitation Program

• Increases productivity in the workplace
• Reduces:
• Workers' Comp costs
• Insurance premiums and overall health premiums
• Employee turnover and lost time
• Incidents of fraud and abuse
• The cost of detecting one pre-existing condition can pay for the WorkSTEPS® costs for up two years
• For every $1 invested into WorkSTEPS Functional Employment Testing $30 are returned

Prevention: Occupational Health and Safety Newsletter

• February 2009: Upper Extremity Testing
• April 2009: How to Identify Conditions That Contribute to MSD's
• June 2009: Beating the Heat
• August 2009: Benefits of Fit For Duty Testing

For more information contact Meghan Wilinski, Director of Marketing

Phone: (815) 243-1240
Email: mwilinski@ ostipt.com

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