OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION – SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Occupational Rehabilitation Program (ORP) operates in accordance with the Mission Statement of Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services and Trinity Health. Outpatient services are provided at the STARS Liberty Site which is located at 717 N. Liberty in Boise, Idaho.

Scope of Services:  

The ORP provides specialized services to help employees prevent or recover from work-related injuries and return to work. Our physical therapists are Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialists (CWCS) in the state of Idaho, as well as Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialists (CEAS). Persons served in the ORP must be medically stable and of a medical acuity that allows them to actively participate in therapy.

Admission to the ORP excludes clients who have medical comorbidities or complications that would prevent them from improving to where they could safely return to work.  Also excluded are individuals with extreme psychological or behavioral control issues that might threaten the safety of other clients or staff.  See policy titled “Occupational Rehabilitation-Admission, Continued Stay, & Discharge Criteria.”

Work-related injuries typically result in physical impairments affecting strength, endurance and range of motion and overall work capacities.  Such injuries are often painful and require treatment for pain management. Persons served in the ORP most often demonstrate activity limitations in functional and work capacities (e.g., walking, reaching, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.).  The activity limitations may prevent them from doing their job and/or may put them at risk for recurrent injury.  Persons served may have participation restrictions making it difficult for them to return to their previous family, community, or social, or employment roles.  Examples of participation restrictions addressed by this program, however, center around maintaining employment and ensuring safe return to work.  Additionally, persons served in the ORP may have unique emotional or behavioral needs that need to be addressed during the episode of care.

Services Directly Provided by the ORP:
WorkSTAR offers a number of services to ensure employers that their workers can perform with minimal risk of injury.  These services include:

  • Work Hardening Program: A customized program designed for individuals who require reconditioning prior to returning to work. This includes customized work simulation, functional strength training, and aerobic conditioning with stretching and dynamic stabilization. Our program includes weekly Interdisciplinary Staffings.Interdisciplinary Team:
    • Medical/Physiatrist (symptom & pain control, medications, imaging)
    • Physical Training (as listed above including an educational program)
    • Neuropsychology (sleep, depression, stress management, etc.
  • Work Conditioning: Structured rehabilitation with an emphasis on job simulation activities to facilitate a successful return to work. An approach similar to Work Hardening is utilized, however, without the interdisciplinary team.
  • Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA)/KEY Medley System: A process of measuring, recording, and analyzing a person’s ability to safely perform a number of job related functions. The purpose of an FCA is to identify the clients’ safe capacities through the use of objective, reliable and valid data. The FCA can also be used to assist with case management including return to work, re-injury prevention, rehabilitation, disability and/or job placement.
  • Conditioning & Safety Training (CAST) Program: An adjunct program to Work Hardening Conditioning Program. The WorkSTAR team may refer clients to this program to work on conditioning, endurance, and overall safety training before beginning Work Hardening, Work Conditioning or a Functional Capacity Assessment.
  • WORKStep: An adjunct program designed to assist clients who experience severe substance abuse issues. Our program is collaborative with Intermountain Hospital’s New Start Program. Other inpatient facilities may be used, by request. Clients will get a tailored detoxification program with the expectation of attending Work Hardening upon completion of substance abuse treatment. Treatment can range from 8 days-6 weeks depending on substance and severity.
  • Job Placement Assessments: A non-discriminatory assessment used to screen workers before they begin a job to determine their capacities to perform specific job tasks. This can help to prevent on the job injuries by identifying any physical barriers that the potential employee may have in relationship to the job.
  • Ergonomic Assessments: Creating a “best fit” between worker, task and environment. A Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist identifies positive aspects as well as risk factors at a specific workstation. Recommendations are provided for modifications to reduce risk of cumulative trauma or injury. Industrial and office assessments are available.
  • Worker Recovery Program: Outpatient physical therapy whose purpose is to identify return to work goals and create job simulation activities as closely as possible to the workers job demands. Education is provided to emphasize injury prevention and self-management of symptoms. Return to work is expected during, or upon completion of their rehab program. A traditional Work Hardening program is deemed unnecessary to reach return to work goals.
  • Job Site Evaluation (JSE): A systematic procedure for observing and describing the duties and the condition of a particular job. This may include any of the following: task analysis, risk management, assessment of postures and/or positions, identification of environmental hazards, accommodation recommendations, and employee education. A licensed staff member will visit the job site, identify the physical demands, and obtain data that can be utilized to make recommendations. This information can also be utilized to develop employee education classes or specific Job Placement Assessments
  • Medical Services—The team physician conducts Independent Medical Evaluations and is able to perform Electro diagnostic Studies (EMG/NCS).  The physician serves as a resource to the occupational rehabilitation team.
  • Neuropsychology Services—The team neuropsychologist provides the following services:  pre-surgical consultations, hypnosis, neuropsychology and psychology services, evaluations and treatment with medical clients, chronic pain consultation and treatment, imagery and relaxation techniques.

Additional Services Available to the ORP by STARS:
Persons served in the ORP may benefit from additional therapy services provided by STARS including but not limited to:

  • Balance/Vestibular Therapy
  • Aquatics Therapy
  • Chiropractic Care
  • Restorative Spine Class
  • STOTT Pilates

Additional Services Available to the ORP by Referral:
Occasionally persons served in the ORP may need referrals for additional services including but not limited to:

  • Smoking Cessation Classes
  • Chemical Dependency Services
  • Detoxification Services
  • Orthotics/Prosthetics Services
  • Wound Clinic
  • Pain Center
  • Other medical specialties

Being part of the Saint Alphonsus Health System allows STARS and the ORP streamlined access to the full scope of medical services.

WORKSTAR


WORKSTAR Team

Kevin Krafft M.D. – WorkSTAR Medical Director

  • Board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation & Electro diagnostics (EMG/NCS)
  • Received Doctorate in 1990 at the University of Washington
  • Former assistant professor at the University of Texas (UTSWMS) 1994-1997

Robert F. Calhoun, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist

  • Specializes in general neuropsychology, behavioral medicine and chronic pain
  • Received Doctorate in 1992 at the Washington State University Medical School, Health Science Center and Interned at University of Washington

Peggy Wilson PT, CEAS – WorkSTAR coordinator

  • Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) Certified Ergonomic  Assessment Specialist (CEAS)
  • Key Functional Capacity Assessment Specialist
  • Over 30 years professional experience
  • Certified Worker’s Compensation Specialist
  • Case Management

Suzanne Kelly PT, CEAS

  • Licensed Physical Therapist (PT)
  • Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (CEAS)
  • KEY Functional Capacity Assessment Specialist
  • Over 25 years professional experience
  • Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist
  • Case Management

Carolyn Bartlett  – WorkSTAR Administrative Assistant

  • Client Service Representative
  • Case Management
  • Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist
  • Over 12 years Customer Service & Administrative Experience
  • A.S. Business Management

The overall goal of the program is to train and improve body awareness/mechanics, strength, endurance, and range of motion functional and work capacities for safe return to work.  This is accomplished through an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team approach. The focus of the program is to identify each participant’s vocational needs and simulate or integrate these into therapeutic activities.  Persons served typically remain in their home/community settings throughout the episode of care and post-discharge.  Discharge to home/community is typically a given with this population; however, it may be necessary to refer to other more appropriate discharge settings (e.g., hospital, intermountain hospital, detox unit, etc.).  These decisions are based on the current or projected needs of each individual.

The ORP at STARS is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday.  The program does not provide services on weekends or on major holidays including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  Individualized schedules will be provided for each client according to his or her specific needs.  The program has an AM and PM program that runs 2-4 hours/day, 3-5 days/week. The program strives to keep clients at work in some capacity, if it is in their best interest.  Attempts are made to work around their work schedule.

Referrals are accepted from physicians and other providers (for example, physician assistants and nurse practitioners), social workers, case managers, care navigators, and discharge planners, employers, and attorneys.  The ORP at STARS does not discriminate against individuals of varying race, cultural background, religion, sex, or sexual preference, and strives to understand and be sensitive to these needs and characteristics.  The program works with adult clients (18 and older).  The ORP at STARS accepts various funding sources including, but not limited to, Private Insurance, Worker’s Compensation, Self-Pay, HMO/PPO, Medicare, in-state Medicaid, out-of-state Medicaid, and CHAMPUS. Worker’s Comp is the program’s most prevalent payor.  The program will assist with application for uncompensated care, as available, for individuals who are uninsured and cannot afford to pay.  Clients are encouraged to become informed of their coverage, coinsurance, co-pay and any additional fees and assisted as needed. Details regarding the aforementioned may be documented on the Individualized Disclosure Form that is provided in their intake packets.

The program seeks to keep clients, families and significant others informed of local and regional support groups, advocacy agencies, and community resources.  Assistance is provided to access these resources, as needed.

WorkSTAR Related Links

Smoking Cessation:
http://www.quitandliveglobal.com

Refer to:  Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services “Occupational Rehabilitation-Admission, Continued Stay and Discharge/Transition Criteria” policy.