Affiliations: St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada | Work Function Unit, McMaster University, Institute of
Applied Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada | Department of Public Health Sciences, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Susan Strong, Work Function Unit,
School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Institute of Applied
Health Sciences, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L85 IC7.
Tel.: +1 905 627 7924; E-mail: strongs@mcmaster.ca
Abstract: Until recently, little was documented about how functional capacity
evaluations (FCEs) are used by employers and workers' compensation
organizations. Such information was one focus of a comprehensive research study
on FCEs carried out in southern Ontario, Canada, which involved representatives
from the full range of groups involved in FCEs: referral sources, assessors,
return-to-work specialists, third party payers and injured workers [1].
This paper shares findings from a cohort of injured workers undergoing FCEs,
and explored how their FCE results were perceived and utilized by those
receiving the reports. Based on study findings, we provide recommendations as
to how FCEs should be requested, undertaken, reported and particularly applied
to reduce work disability among injured workers.
Keywords: work capacity evaluation, job re-entry, worker's compensation, occupational health services, occupational injury
