Returning to work following an injury or illness can be a challenging and uncertain process. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) from Ultima Independent Assessments provides an objective assessment of an individual’s functional abilities in relation to the physical and/or cognitive demands of their work. The evaluation will also help determine if an individual is ready to return to work and, if not, provide an estimate of when they may be able to safely do so without the risk of reinjury.
Functional Capacity Evaluations, also called Return to Work Assessments, assist our health care professionals with recommendations for your safe return to work. They’ll inform what you can safely do, for how long, and if any special accommodations need to be made. They also document anything that may prevent you from returning to work or fully recovering. Functional Capacity Evaluations are also a way to inform your employer of how to modify any of your work tasks or how to create new ergonomic solutions.
Please note: This is a referral-based service. The FCE is arranged through the appropriate organization or referring professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a functional capacity evaluation?
In a medical-legal setting, a functional capacity evaluation or FCE is a physical exam that helps lawyers determine how an injury or accident has affected their client, and if the individual can return to the life they had prior to the disabling event.
An occupational health-related FCE is similar to a medical-legal FCE, except the end goal is different. It helps employers determine how an injury or accident has affected an employee’s ability to perform work and asks the question: Can the employee return to the workplace and function under the same or similar conditions as they left?
What happens during a functional capacity evaluation?
A kinesiologist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist assesses an injured client’s range of motion, physical strength, flexibility and stamina, and other physical metrics including muscle mass, grip strength, back, knee and neck rotation, and reflexes.
Part of the FCE could include workplace simulations where an employee replicates actions performed on the job. For example, going up and down ladders, hand motions required for washing dishes, walking with weights, fine motor skills testing, tasks which rely on manual dexterity, coordination, and so on.
This evaluation does not assess system-related medical issues like a client’s cardiovascular, pulmonary or orthopaedic health.
Can you give me an example of someone who might need an FCE?
Book Your Functional Capacity Evaluation Today
Trust Ultima Independent Assessments with your functional capacity evaluation. We provide unbiased reports of an individual’s readiness to return to work and how to do so safely.