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Susan Rand Celico, PT Some injured workers are referred to the Donley Center for a special
test called a Functional Capacity Evaluation or FCE for short.
Part I is an interview. The injured worker will first meet with a Registered Nurse to determine if there are any medical reasons not to perform the test, such as high blood pressure or lung problems. Next, the patient is assigned to one of our staff Physical Therapists (PT). The therapist will want to get a full understanding of the patient's own perception of the injury, his or her recovery and ability to Return to Work (RTW). Often, the employer has provided a job description and we can use this to construct the testing. As with all of our services, the Donley Center provides professional interpreters for non-English-speaking clients. |
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IV is the most important part. The Therapist will review the findings
of the test with the patient and discuss recommendations for the future.
What happens to the test results? A full report is sent to the referring
doctor describing the test components and results. Patients are asked
to perform to the best of their ability. Every patient has the right to
refuse to continue any test procedure at any time. However, if appropriate
and safe, the Therapist may ask the patient to continue despite minor
pain. It is only during this period that we can accurately assess the
degree of functional ability or disability. It is important that a patient
commit to performing to their maximum capability in order for the test
to be considered valid. The Physical Therapist uses a number of signs,
such as heart rate, and posture response to determine if the patient has
put forth their best effort. Functional Capacity Evaluation testing is a valuable tool to assess a patient's recovery, determine treatment goals and assist in returning injured workers back to gainful employment. If you have any questions about the FCE, call the Donley Center at (401) 243-1200. |
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