The occupational health program at Wise Health System follows the WorkSTEPS&trade model. WorkSTEPS was developed in 1986 as a managed industrial health care network designed to meet state and federal regulatory and quality assurance guidelines. The program also aims to reduce workers’ compensation claims and provide a means for early return to work.
The WorkSTEPS program was developed by physical therapists in an industrial rehabilitation setting and relies on stringent scientific protocol. The program has been extremely effective in regard to medical/legal intervention.
WorkSTEPS is centered upon the evaluation and assessment of an employee’s capabilities in relation to the physical demands of the job he or she is required to perform. The program successfully:
- Identifies persons who have cardiovascular and/or cumulative trauma disorders
- Assists employers in appropriately matching current employees to safe/appropriate job positions
- Quantifies legitimate injuries and disqualifies non-legitimate injuries
- Expedites rehabilitation and return-to-work post injury
WorkSTEPS™ Pre-Employment and Post-Employment Tests
The Occupational Health program at Wise Health System offers several WorkSTEPS™ tests and services, including:
Post-Offer Comprehensive Test
This is a 1.5 to 2-hour test. Medical questions and several medical tests are included to objectively quantify pre-existing conditions and cumulative traumas to determine their effect upon “significant and impending” risk as it relates to the position in question.
Post-Employment Fit For Duty
This is a 1.5 to 2-hour test administered to existing employees under several circumstances specifically addressed in the Technical Assistance Manual. The test may be administered on a voluntary basis, at specific intervals scheduled by the employer, or on an individual basis if the employee demonstrates “evidence of problems related to job performance or safety” (TAM V1-12). This test is used to classify employees according to risk and then implement prevention strategies to lower susceptibility to injury. Work conditioning, accommodations and other options are made available to the employer based upon results.
Carpal Tunnel Test
This test takes approximately 30 minutes to administer as part of either the Post-Offer/ Pre-Placement Comprehensive Test or the Post-Employment/Fit for Duty Test. It is used to determine capability as it relates to job function. It gives pass or fail for medical risk criteria.
Functional Capacity Evaluation
The FCE is a medical test to measure an employee’s function post-injury. The WorkSTEPS FCE is designed to follow the same pre-injury test protocols of the employment test to compare baseline data, document existing impairments, prove consistency and create realistic objective treatment goals and return to work recommendations. The WorkSTEPS FCE is also automated and includes criteria to evaluate symptom magnification, inappropriate illness behavior and validity of performance.