The quality of your FCE often depends on...

In workers’ compensation, the quality of your FCE often depends on the job information you receive.

If you are a kinesiologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or clinic owner this is for you.

If the purpose of the functional capacity evaluation is to determine readiness to return to a specific job, the examiner should attempt to obtain a written job description or functional job analysis describing the physical demand requirements prior to testing. In workers’ compensation contexts, this request is typically directed to the insurance claims adjuster, nurse case manager, or vocational rehabilitation provider.

In practice, this information is frequently incomplete, outdated, or unavailable. When this occurs, the examiner should not proceed with interpretation based on assumptions of job demands. Alternative methods include:

Conducting a structured interview with the employer or supervisor to clarify task frequency, load, and environmental conditions

Performing a worksite-based job analysis prior to the evaluation

Scheduling the evaluation at the worksite to directly observe tasks and discuss potential accommodations

Each of these approaches allows the examiner to anchor test findings to actual job requirements rather than generalized strength categories. Failure to clarify job demands introduces interpretive error, particularly when attempting to determine functional match or safe return-to-work capacity.

We cover this in our upcoming in-person Functional Capacity Evaluation workshop in Calgary.

Details and registration:

https://cka77008.wildapricot.org/event-6622324


Disclaimer:
This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is specific to Alberta, Canada. It does not constitute legal advice. Laws and their application may vary. You should consult a qualified legal professional or appropriate regulatory authority before implementing any fit-for-work or functional testing program.