Evaluating a Worker's Ability to Perform Tasks

Functional Capacity Evaluation is a standardized evaluation of the worker's ability to perform a given scenario of physical tasks related to job tasks, including:

• Musculoskeletal evaluation
  
• Repetitive motion evaluation
  
• Static strength
  
• Occasional, frequent and constant material handling
  
• Hand evaluation
  
• Non-material handling
  
• Symptom exaggeration identification
  
• Non-organic behavioral profile 

The goals of the Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) are the following:

Musculoskeletal evaluation Repetitive motion evaluation Static strength Occasional, frequent and constant material handling Hand evaluation Non-material handling Symptom exaggeration identification Non-organic behavioral profile

• To establish a comprehensive profile of the employee's ability to perform work.
• To gain objective data for the establishment on the degree of medical impairment.
•  To verify the presence of pathology versus behavioral problems.
• To establish a baseline for successful rehabilitation.
• To establish a safe physical demand classification for return to work.

The Highland Park Center offers certified FCE professional administers. The evaluation is done on a referral basis. The FCE typically lasts three to five hours depending on the complexity of the problem identified.