Rehab Management Solutions Trains Rehab Professionals How to Perform Functional Testing

STURTEVANT, Wis. - July 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Recent studies by the National Safety Council determine that the average direct cost of an individual worker’s compensation claim is approximately $36,551. And in 2011, there were 5,000,000 medically consulted injuries caused in the workplace. With these numbers on the rise, employers are desperate to find low-cost rehabilitation solutions that return injured workers back to employment safely and quickly. Rehab Management Solutions (RMS) is excited to educate physical and occupational therapists at all levels of practice on how to become their community’s solution to workplace injuries. To reach this goal, RMS hosted a regional summit on June 20-21, 2014 to train providers how to perform functional testing throughout an injured worker’s plan of care.

As you can tell by the numbers, worker’s compensation cases can be extremely costly to employers, as they are not only required to pay the worker’s compensation premiums, but also the direct and indirect costs of a claim. This includes all medical bills for the injured worker, the worker’s lost time and additional staff training. To help rehabilitation practices become their community’s industrial medicine destination center, RMS offers a 4-part Work Injury Program Initiative (WIPI) training. Part 1 focuses on the case management aspect, documentation and how an entire practice can make worker’s compensation cases a teamwork approach. Part 2 is a series of bi-monthly case consultation meetings held virtually. Part 3, which was held on June 20-21, focuses on how to perform functional testing throughout a patient’s treatment. And Part 4 offers education on how to market to employers and become the clinic of choice for preventive programs.

The Functional Test Training Summit held this past month was well-received by all that attended. The audience was comprised of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants. When incorporated into a plan of care, functional testing allows a provider to better determine a patient’s current abilities in relation to his or her job demands, as well as create a treatment plan that simulates the worker’s daily tasks. Testing also allows rehabilitation providers to assess the injured worker’s productivity, pain levels, safety, and physical tolerances. Regular updates on the patient’s progression and estimated return-to-work timelines based off of this objective data can be easily and proactively communicated to those involved in the case management process.

As the RMS WIPI leaders believe that “fun gets work done,” there was plenty of functional testing simulation offered in the hands-on training. Providers enjoyed the interactive learning environment and had fun participating in workplace activities that they would normally request their patients to perform. Pictures of the training are available upon request.

Rehab Management Solutions is a physical therapist owned and led company that focuses on helping physical and occupational therapists open, manage and grow practices through proven operations and systems. For more information on the WIPI program or to schedule an educational training at your practice, visit www.rehabmgtsolutions.com/industry, or contact Larry Briand, MS, PT, ATC at 877-552-2996 or at lbriand@rehabmgtsolutions.com.