Functional Restoration Program Evaluation
The process begins with a referral of an injured worker from their treating physician or insurance company followed by a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation by our team. Each potential candidate will see one of our pain physicians, a physical therapist and a board certified pain psychologist in order to determine if the program is a good fit for the person.
The evaluation also allows the candidate to familiarize themselves with the team and ask questions so they have a role in the determination process.
If the person is a good fit for the program, then our team meets with the client individually and reviews available medical records from previous treatments. The team then produces a multidisciplinary evaluation report requesting authorization from the insurance carrier explaining our assessment and the rationale and goals for participation in the program.
Functional Capacity Evaluation
A functional capacity evaluation helps determines a person’s readiness or capability to return to work. FCE’s tests the physical demands of a job and how or if the client can meet those job demands. Reasons for an FCE include:
- Evaluating return to work
- Evaluating baseline physical capabilities of client
- Determining current physical level and next level of treatment
- Exact data to be used by MD or other qualified medical professional
Are you a SPARC Med candidate?
The typical candidate for the SPARC approach is someone who has undergone extensive medical and/or surgical treatment with only temporary or minimal improvement.
Specific factors that make functional restoration an appropriate option include:
- Significant deconditioning from diminished activity due to pain, fatigue or illness
- Psychosocial factors such as depression or stress that exacerbate the pain
- Sleep disturbance related to pain
- Over-reliance on medication for pain control
- Family disruption due to pain and functional limitations