Rehabilitation & Other Therapies

Occupational rehabilitation

Aurora Occupational Rehabilitation offers personalized, cost-effective services, ranging from prevention and wellness to rehabilitation of injured workers with the goal of returning the employee to work.

Our experienced clinicians also can provide onsite ergonomic assessments to assist with injury prevention, develop pre-placement, post-offer functional tests, or provide recommendations regarding reasonable accommodation for ADA compliance.

Our work programs are designed to address the physical, and cultural needs of the individual to achieve maximum independent functioning in a vocation and a full return to work. We provide highly structured, goal oriented and individualized occupational therapy programs to transition workers through the process from acute care, back to work.

Experienced staff

A team including occupational and physical therapists work with the physician on specialized programs for the injured worker. Many of Aurora BayCare's therapists have completed advanced training in occupational topics such as ergonomics, functional capacity evaluations, and evaluation and treatment of the injured worker.

Individualized treatment functional capacity evaluations

A functional capacity evaluation determines an injured worker's maximum physical and functional capabilities objectively and comprehensively.

During a 3-4 hour time period, endurance and consistency are measured through sustained performance in response to broadly defined work activities. Through this testing we can objectively evaluate the individual's level of effort and true functional limitations. This test also measures positional tolerance, flexibility, whole body strength, body mechanics, work behaviors and relevant work tasks.

A functional capacity evaluation can provide the physician with information to:

  • Objectively rate a disability
  • Determine return-to-work status
  • Evaluate for vocational retraining

Work conditioning program

Work conditioning is a 2-4 week personalized return-to-work program. Included are an evaluation of each person's work environment, simulated work activities, exercise and education, all focusing on the goal of returning employees to work.

The work conditioning evaluation and program include:

  • Functional capacity evaluation
  • On-site job analysis
  • Musculoskeletal evaluation
  • Physical reconditioning/exercise
  • Injury-prevention education
  •  Work-simulation activities

The benefits of the program include:

  • Injured workers increase their overall muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance, and learn how to prevent re-injury.
  • Employers reduce medical costs, replacement labor costs and lost work days.
  • Insurers reduce costs and avoid unsuccessful long-term rehabilitation through early referral to an Aurora Rehabilitation Center.
  • Physicians have assurance that their patients receive high-quality treatment in a timely manner.

Comprehensive care provided

Prevention

Cumulative Trauma Education - An educational group session, usually on-site, that instructs employees in prevention and management of cumulative trauma injuries. Educational sessions can be tailored to specific needs identified, for example, office ergonomics, fitness, stress management, etc.
Pre-Placement, Post-Offer Functional Testing - This tests a post-offer candidate's ability to perform the essential physical components of a job. This can assist employers in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is usually provided as part of a pre-employment physical examination. These tests are job-related and give objective and reliable information about the candidate's ability to do the job.
Worker Exercise Program - Exercises designed for employees that are meant to be performed on the job as a warm-up and stretching program. A "train the trainer" approach may be used.

Rehabilitation

Spine Rehabilitation Program - A treatment program, usually consisting of education, stretches, strengthening and home exercises, to restore function of an injured back, empower the injured employee to manage back problems and prevent re-injury.
Hand Rehabilitation Program - A specialized area of therapy that treats injuries and problems of the hand. Hand therapists are often certified and have had additional training focusing on the intricate structures and functions of the hand.
On-site Rehabilitation - Rehabilitation services offered at the job site, particularly post-injury treatment. With on-site service, employees can reduce costs associated with travel time and clinicians can provide assessment for job readiness using real job activities and make recommendations for the removal of ergonomic hazards. These services contribute to improved employee morale and job satisfaction, as well as injury prevention and loss control.
Orthopedic Rehabilitation - Evaluation and treatment of injuries to the skeleton, muscles, tendons and supporting soft tissue structures. Includes fractures, strains, sprains and other injuries.
Rehabilitation Case Management - The coordination of rehabilitation services for an injured employee involves managing communication and intervention between rehabilitation services and the physician, employer, employee, rehabilitation nurse and insurance adjusters, to ensure quality, cost effective outcomes.

Additional services

ADA Consulting - Guidance regarding ADA issues, particularly regarding to reasonable accommodations and workplace modifications.
OSHA Consulting - Guidance on OSHA issues in conjunction with Aurora Occupational Health.
ADA Job Descriptions - Clinicians can assist employers in writing job descriptions by quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating essential physical demands of a job and providing tools to assist in identifying other qualifications.
Fitness Programs - Any number of exercise or educational programs aimed at promoting wellness and preventing illness and injuries.
Ergonomic Assessment - An analysis of a workstation to identify injury risk and to make recommendations for remediation, or to provide recommendations regarding reasonable accommodation for ADA compliance.