Disability Verification Evaluations

Independent Medical/Specialist Evaluations

An Independent Medical Evaluation is an objective assessment which renders an impartial opinion to help determine the claimant's current medical status. The assessment addresses the following important questions:

• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Causal relationship
• Maximal Medical Improvement
• Work or ADL capability
• Appropriateness of care
• Barriers to recovery
• Treatment options
• Further investigations

Healthnet Assessment has experts across the Province in the following disciplines:

• Orthopaedics
• Physiatry
• Neurology
• Rheumatology
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine
• Vocational Assessments
• Life care plans
• Psycho vocational Assessments
• Driving Assessments
• Dentist
• TMJ Specialist
• ENT Specialist
• Ophthalmologist

Healthnet Assessments has an extensive roster of clinical professional to perform direct assessments across Ontario and include the following:

• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physicians
• Chiropractors
• Massage therapist
• Speech language therapist
• Social Worker.

The assessment centres are corporately controlled and provide an environment which is fully staffed and conducive to a professional interaction between claimant and specialist/assessors.

Functional Capacity Evaluations:
A functional Capacity Evaluation is designed to objectively determine the functional ability to perform Activities of Daily Living or work. HNA FCE has a musculoskeletal front end performed by a regulated health practitioner which increases the utility of such a test. The FCE is a very useful tool to determine a timely and safe return to work level and to plan accommodations. The FCE relies on data obtained by a Physical Demand Analysis or a proper job description.

Each assessment is carried in a corporately owned or affiliate facility which is fully equipped with work simulation stations and equipment designed to augment the functional testing.

Home Site evaluations:
A home site assessment is an evaluation used to determine the client's capabilities and limitations in their performance of activities of daily living. The assessment is conducted in the claimant's home by an Occupational Therapist. The assessment includes observations of the client completing tasks in the following areas: self care (Dressing, bathing, etc), productivity in the home (Cleaning, cooking, etc.) and child care if applicable. Recommendations are made for assistive devices if required to assist the claimant perform home tasks independently.

Attendant Care Form 1
An attendant care assessment is carried out in the client's home or hospital and addresses the claimant's ability to perform personal care activities and determines personal care needs as listed in Form 1. The assessment determines reasonable and necessary level of assistance that a claimant will require to function and is detailed in the Attendant care cost report.

Ergonomic Assessment:
An ergonomic assessment is a tool used to determine the claimant's capabilities and limitations to perform the physical demands of their job. The assessment includes observation of the client's workstation and makes recommendations to minimize undue stress on the claimant's injury site. It assists the claimant remain at work.

Job Site Assessment:
A job site assessment is a tool used to gather comprehensive physical demands at the pre-accident job and return to work options. It is useful is setting rehabilitation goals and facilitating a return to work plan with identifying return to work options. The assessment is carried at the claimant's place of work by an occupational therapist. It also identifies ergonomic or risk factors that may delay recovery.

Physical Demands Analysis:
The physical demands analysis documents the specific tasks required in a job and the specific movements and postures required including force and frequency requirements. The physical demands analysis allows for comparison between the physical requirement of a job and the claimant's current capabilities.

Vocational and Psycho vocational Assessments
These assessments are designed to determine vocational options for the claimant that has reached maximum medical improvement and is unable to return to his or her pre accident job because of physical, mental or psychological impairments. These assessments take into consideration the claimants' education, aptitude, interest, skills, occupational profile and physical abilities to determine the transferable skills and offer a suitable option for work.

The psycho vocational assessment is carried out by a psychologist and determines if the claimant is psychologically and emotionally able to return to his or her pre-accident job. If a return to the prep-accident job is not possible, this assessment will make recommendations for alternate work that is suited to the claimant's temperament and personality traits.

Some of the additional services provided by the Vocational division are transferable skills analysis and labour market research.

Life Care Planning
This specialized assessment is aimed at claimants who have catastrophic impairments, chronic disease, psychological disorders, neurologic conditions, paediatric and senior care management. The Life Care plan takes into account the medical, psychological and economic impact of disability and chronic conditions to develop comprehensive plans for the claimant. The plan addresses the claimant's future medical, psychosocial and financial needs. The plan is also useful for reducing or preventing complications and improving quality of life