Back to Work Program

      Work Conditioning

       It is important to return the injured worker back to the workplace promptly to maximize coping skills and functional capacity and return to a normal activity level. The overall goal of any injured worker rehabilitation program is to shorten the time frame from onset of injury to a return to the work force. The most efficient outcome is achieved when there is immediate intervention following an injury.

       Injured workers benefit from physical therapy services from the onset of injury through their return to work. Early physical therapy intervention will help with early motion, reducing pain and swelling, and reinforce a healthy attitude to an early return to work. Many injured workers who receive appropriate early care return to their job without additional rehabilitation services. Modified work arrangements can also be very productive in maintaining the injured workers attitude.

       PT Hawaii  has a new expanded dedicated space for the injured worker in need of work conditioning. Our facilities are equipped with the latest equipment consisting of the newest traction machine from Chattanooga group, treadmills, bikes, full line of dumbbell weights, lifting station and traditional rehab equipment.

What does the program consist of?

• Initial evaluation by a physical to assess physical deficits and required work demands.
• Development of individualized treatment plan including cardiovascular exercise, stretching, strengthening and patient education.
• Simulation of work related activity
• Provided in multi-hour sessions up to 4 hrs/daily, usually 3 sessions/week.

Who qualifies for the program?

• Anyone who has been injured on the job who, if they were attending physical/occupational therapy prior, has been formally discharged.
• Anyone who has an identified physical and functional deficit that interferes with their ability to perform normal work duties.
• Patients must have a work related goal and a willingness to participate.
• A prescription from the doctor is required.

When is the patient discharged from the program?

• When the goals and outcomes for the patient have been met.
• If the patient is unable to continue because of medical or psychosocial complications.
• If insurance resources have been expended.
• If the patient declines to continue intervention or fails to comply with the requirements of participation.
• If the provider determines that the patient will no longer benefit from the program.

When the patient is discharged from the work conditioning program, the provider shall notify the employer, insurance carrier and referral source, and include the following information:

• Clinical and functional status
• Consult with referring Physician regarding Physical Demand Level achieved and return to work status.
• PT Hawaii’s work hardening program may be conducted for four to seven hours a day, three to five days per week, and for a period of up to four weeks.  Prior authorization will be required to continue treatment beyond four weeks.
• Functional Capacity Evaluation if indicated to determine return to work capacity.
  
  
  
  

  Work Hardening

  
  

         Work Hardening is a program individually designed by our team of Physical Therapists at PT Hawaii. This comprehensive program consists of stretching, conditioning, strengthening, motivating, and educating injured workers with the goal of returning them to work.

         The program uses simulated work conditions in a relevant work environment in conjunction with physical conditioning tasks. The activities are used to progressively improve bio-mechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular-metabolic, behavioral, attitudinal, and vocational functions of the person served. 

         PT Hawaii’s work hardening program is  multidisciplinary in nature with the capability of addressing the functional, physical, behavioral, and vocational needs of the person served.   The program provides a transition between the initial injury management and return to work, while addressing the issues of productivity, safety, physical tolerance, and work behavior. 

  
  

  The benefits of work hardening

  - Maximizing the injured worker's physical potential to return to work 

  - Facilitation of a timely closure to a workers compensation claim. 

  Our work hardening program components include:

  
  

  - Job simulation tasks

  
  

  - Individualized exercises

  
  

  - Cardiovascular conditioning

  
  

  - Flexibility training

  
  

  - Materials handling

  
  

  - Positional tolerance circuits 

  
  

   Duration

  - PT Hawaii’s work hardening program may be conducted for four to seven hours a day, three to five days   per week, and for a period of up to four weeks.  Prior authorization will be required to continue treatment     beyond four weeks.

  
  
  
  

  Functional Capacity Evaluation

  
  

          At Physical Therapy Hawaii (PT Hawaii) we use  Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) as a systematic process of measuring an individual’s ability to perform meaningful tasks safely and dependably. It is based on objective performance measurements that are analyzed and recorded by our state of the art computer technology.  Thus, an FCE is not merely an observation or subjective determination of an individual’s self report of abilities.  

           A Functional Capacity Evaluation should be used in the determination of the safe return to work of an injured employee, and in matching job demands to retained capabilities.  It can identify functional weakness and strength deficits, thereby allowing for proper treatment and rehabilitation. It also aids in establishing an impartial and objective measurement of the worker’s capabilities, which is often necessary for a bureaucratic or judicial resolution and/or disability determination

  
  

  What Are the Purposes and Applications of the FCE?

  FCE may be used to determine:

  • Goals for rehabilitation or readiness for discharge

  • Return to work status (including full duty, modified/transitional duty)

  • Case settlement

  • Disability status

  • Ability to meet job demands as part of a hiring process (for preemployment/post-offer testing)

  • In conjunction with a physician’s independent medical examination (IME)

  • Before court cases for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) or personal injury.

  • Determining a patient’s suitability for new employment.

  
  

  Who Can Refer/Recommend the FCE?

  • Physicians (MD, DO)

  • Chiropractors

  • Case managers

  • Other therapists

  • Insurance carriers

  • Employers/human resource

  • Personnel/risk managers