SERVICES DESCRIPTION for VOCATIONAL EVALUATION & FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY  EVALUATION (FCE)

       1 and 2-DAY VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS

FACTS offers a 1 or 2-Day Vocational Assessment providing paper/pencil testing that includes vocational/occupational interests, achievement grade levels (vocabulary, reading comprehension, math, and spelling) and cognitive/general learning ability. This assessment is most appropriate for a client with a high school education or higher, with minimal physical problems. The work pace of the client will determine if all requested testing can be completed in one or two days.

       3-DAY VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT & WORK SAMPLING EVALUATION

A 3-Day Vocational Assessment provides more in-depth paper and pencil as well as hands-on testing that includes occupational interests, academic levels (vocabulary, reading comprehension, math, and spelling), general learning abilities, personality and various career aptitudes. This assessment is appropriate when a client has not had the benefit of much formal education, and has little to no pain or physical limitation. Hands-on work samples, in addition to written psychometrics, are utilized to determine aptitudes, dexterity,

and identify transferable work skills.

       5-DAY WORK EVALUATION

The 5-Day Work Evaluation provides identification of achievement grade levels, vocational interests, cognitive/general learning ability, including work sampling to assist determining aptitudes, transferable skills, work skills, work behaviors, worker traits, learning style, best training mode, physical tolerances, as well as stamina and endurance for a selected occupational goal. This 5-Day Work Evaluation includes all services of the shorter vocational assessments, but is most beneficial for those clients experiencing physical or mental difficulties.

This participation graph is included in work evaluation reports to document the client's participation time in the simulated work environment.

       10 DAY COMPLETE WORK EVALUATION

This work evaluation assesses whether an individual with physical challenges has demonstrated the necessary physical tolerances, stamina and endurance to return to full-time competitive employment. Additionally, included in the report is documentation of work readiness, worker traits, work behaviors, cognitive capacities, general learning ability, achievement grade level, transferable skills, learning style, aptitudes and vocational interests. The best learning and/or training mode for the client (direct placement, on-the-job training versus formalized classroom training) will also be addressed.

This 10-Day Work Evaluation typically includes vocational exploration. The goal is to identify the possiblvocational alternatives or occupational directions that are conducive to the skill and aptitude testing results, and within the client's demonstrated physical tolerance levels. Included is information regarding occupational interests, how well the client would be expected to perform in each of these occupations, and physically if the client can sustain the job over a period of time. Additionally, a number of alternate job recommendations within the demonstrated levels will be included

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The above graph is included in all work evaluations and FCE reports to provide a visualization of the client's self-reported pain levels during the course of the evaluation. It provides insight as to the pattern of stamina and endurance, as well as assistance in correlating specific work tasks to self-reported pain levels. A similar graph depicting concentration levels is also included. The client is requested to present self-assessment of physical discomfort ratings at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m. daily using the following five point scale:

     1. I have no pain, and no problems working now.

     2. I have noticeable discomfort, yet not limiting my ability to work.

     3. I have moderate discomfort, and I feel that it is slowing me down.

     4. My discomfort is high enough that I feel I must take a break.

     5. My discomfort is high enough that I feel taking a break will not help. I can no longer work.

       LEARNING DISABILITY EVALUATION

The Learning Disability Evaluation documents if a client meets the definition of learning disabled (LD) under the California Educational Code. The LD Evaluation includes analysis of cognitive and academic achievement levels via a number of testing instruments, including Woodcock-Johnson III by a trained learning disability evaluation professional with a minimum of a Masters Degree. The LD Evaluation is a one-to-two day service depending on the client's work pace, and the report includes recommendations for reasonable accommodations and adaptive aides. The best learning style and recommended training mode for the client are also documented. The LD Evaluation may be used as a stand-alone evaluation or in combination with our other assessment or evaluation services.

       FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY EVALUATION

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a systematic process of assessing an individual's physical

capacities and functional abilities. The FCE establishes the physical level of work an individual demonstrates they can currently perform. It is generally utilized any time an individual is in need of quantification of their physical capabilities for determination of a disability status.

An FCE is generally utilized by doctors, attorneys, employers or insurance carrier wishing to determine:

       -  maximum medical improvement (MMI), permanent and stationary status (P&S) or assist in

..........determining restrictions post injury;

       -  furthermore recommendations for individuals who have achieved MMI but continue too have

..........issues related to re-injury and return to work;

       -  the individual's ability to safely return to work full time or on modified duty;

       -  if work restrictions, job modifications, or reasonable accommodations are necessary to

..........prevent.further injury;

       -  the extent to which impairments exist, or the degree of physical disability for compensation

..........purposes;

       -  the potential ability to perform work following acute rehabilitation or a work conditioning

..........program.

Parties who may potentially benefit by utilizing a Functional Capacity Evaluation include:

       -  Injured workers – gain knowledge of their abilities and limitations to insure their safe and

..........productive return to work;

       -  Physicians – receive key components of a completed PR-4 with a competent and accurate

...........functional testing that leads to medical release for return to work, appropriate work

...........restrictions, or worksite modifications;

       -  Employers - become aware of the physical demands of the job and an individual worker's

..........physical capacity and limitations regarding their safe return to work;

       -  Insurance System (carriers, case managers, claims administrators, social security

.'''''''''''''administrators, etc.) - close cases efficiently and effectively;

       -  Attorneys – receive objective documentation of functional testing and abilities of their client.

Foster Assessment Center & Testing Service, Inc. provides two types of Functional Capacity Evaluations:

       1.    Functional Capacity Evaluation (97670) provides a baseline, objective assessment of the

..............individual's physical abilities to perform a variety of tasks related to the physical demands

..............of work. It includes standardized tests of strength, flexibility, weight lifting, carrying,

..............pushing,.pulling, standing, sitting, bending, unsupported reaching, etc. to determine

..............functional ability.

The functional capacity evaluation is comprised of short-term, structured activities performed in a controlled, safe, and supervised manner. It does not document an individual's overall physical stamina or ability to tolerate work positions consistently over time. It is conducted under direct supervision, and is generally performed on a one-to-one basis over a one-to-two day period, by or performed substantially in the presence of a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist (CVE) who has training in areas to include, but not limited to neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and biomechanical functioning; kinesiology; and exercise physiology.

This type of evaluation generally occurs over a one to two day period. However, at times a series of baseline FCE's can be useful to physicians when conducted in two-to-four week intervals to assist in the MMI or P&S determination as well as work restrictions. If the results of the FCE are essentially unchanged among a series of evaluations, it helps to document the stabilization of progress. If improvement is shown, it may justify further medical treatment.

       2.    Job Specific Functional Capacity Evaluation -Work Tolerance Testing (97660) is designed to document an individual's readiness to return to full-time, competitive employment. It evaluates physical abilities to function within the parameters of an identified job, and is based on the critical physical demands of the essential functions of the job. Work simulation activities are often an integral component of the evaluation.

The Job Specific FCE Work Tolerance Testing generally involves three or five days of duplication of the physical demands and physical tolerances required for a specific job or job grouping (i.e., clerical, bench work, field technician work). A variety of tasks or situations may be appropriate; however, simulated work tasks are most often utilized related to the field of work to determine if the required physical tolerances, stamina and endurance can be sustained over a period of time. A systematic observation process is utilized for evaluating specific targeted occupational-related physical abilities, essential functions and/or behaviors in a controlled environment. This evaluation is individualized to simulate specific job demands as closely as possible. Use of job modifications and adoptive aids will be included as well as professional opinion of whether the client has demonstrated the capacity to return to full-time competitive employment in the job or job grouping.

The 3-Day FCE/Work Tolerance Testing Evaluation is to determine the client's ability to perform the essential functions of a specific job. The 5-Day FCE/Work Tolerance Testing Evaluation is to determine the client's ability to perform the essential functions in a variety of related occupations when work tolerance for employability is the primary issue.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question: What evaluation is most appropriate for this individual?

Answer: Do not hesitate to call your local Vocational Evaluator to consult with them.

To answer basic questions involving achievement/education grade levels, vocational interests, and cognitive/general learning ability, the utilization of a 1-Day or 2-Day Vocational Assessment is adequate.

When the client is not physically limited, yet is limited English-speaking or is in need of a number of hands-on work samples, our 3-Day Vocational Assessment & Work Sampling Evaluation is more appropriate.

When an individual has nominal physical challenges they are able to generally remain productive throughout the day, yet need an identification of skill and aptitude levels, our 5-Day Work Evaluation will typically be sufficient.

When an individual has sustained a significant injury, and physical tolerances or stamina is in question, it is important to establish the client's feasibility to participate in full-time employment. In this case, our 10-Day Complete Work Evaluation is the more appropriate referral.

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) (97670) provides an objective assessment of an individual's current physical capabilities, as well as a baseline of their physical ability to perform various work activities over a one-to-two day period.

FCE/Work Tolerance Testing (97660) differs in that it is designed to answer whether the client can sustain over a period of time the physical demands and physical tolerances required for a particular job or job grouping.

Question: What if I have questions about the report or services I receive?

Answer: It is always a good practice to telephone the Evaluator with any questions you have. Attending an exit conference is always helpful. However, you can typically send clients back for an additional evaluation or further clarifying testing, generally at no charge.

Question: Can you conduct evaluations for clients that have difficulty speaking English?

Answer: Our centers have staff that is bilingual in Spanish. Additionally, the use of hands-on work samples at all of our centers allows us to provide testing with individuals that cannot speak English. We also have many test instruments in Spanish. Armenian and Vietnamese-speaking staff are also available at some of our centers.