Functional Capacity Evaluations help to determine the physical abilities (or inabilities) of an individual. This helps the employer discover whether the person is able to perform the job related skills that are required for their specified position. It also can help determine how physically ready the person is after an injury to return to work. Through a physical test, measurement of the person’s physical abilities is performed. The measurement is established through the results of various physical activities. FCEs take a substantial amount out of the guesswork that would have to be done in figuring out what the person will and will not be able to tolerate.
FCEs measure the person’s strength and tolerance in doing work related activities inside of a work environment. These tests measure the balance, coordination, stair climbing, ladder climbing, sitting and standing tolerance, flexibility, material handling, and the utilization of body mechanics of the person. This helps to ensure that the person will get back to work in timely, yet safe manner. Through this standardized examination, the person’s functionality level can be measured to ensure that their condition will not interfere with their performance on the job. It can also be used to determine job placement, job accommodation, the disability status, or the appropriate time that they employee will be able to return to work.
There are typically two types of FCEs that are applied. The first is the Baseline FCE. This is a fair assessment that is made of the person’s physical abilities to perform various tasks that are related to the demands of the specific job. The second is referred to as being the Job Specific FCE. This is an evaluation of the person’s physical abilities to operate within the constraints of the particular job. These demands are based on the functions that are required by the job.
An occupational therapy practitioner is able and qualified to perform FCEs. They are able to use their skills and aptitude in order to access the condition of the individual in correlation to the functions that they are able to produce. Through this they are able to draw an analysis of the person’s performance within a job related setting. The actual FCE is paid for by Worker’s compensation insurance plans, personal self insurance plans, state/local agencies, private care pay, and managed care plans. A person may be suggested to use an FCE by a physician, attorney, employer (the human resources department), insurance representative, or case manager. From there, they can send them to a hospital or outpatient facility in which they can receive the FCE.
If you are someone that you know has been recommended to the help of FCEs, it is important that you are aware of this systematic assessment of the person’s physical and functional capabilities. It is also important that you remain informed throughout the duration of this process as a match of the person’s human performance levels are matched with the demands of the specified job.
By Danielle Spanner