Work Skills Assessment in Buffalo, NY

Standard work skills assessment consists of two subjective evaluative procedures, including an Agility Lift Test, which is designed to measure muscle strength, and the Kraus-Weber Musculoskeletal Evaluation, which is designed to measure range of motion. The areas targeted for both tests include the knees, shoulders and neck, and lower back; coincidentally the same body areas afflicted by most workplace strains and sprains. The use of one and/or both of these procedures will depend on the recommendations put forth by HealthWorks' Medical Director after he completes a thorough review of the job description and functional job requirements. Personal observation of the job(s) in question may also be required depending on the nature of the position(s) and the availability of accurate and comprehensive company documentation. The recommendations will be presented to you for your review and final approval. Each procedure is personally overseen and evaluated by a trained HealthWorks provider. The Agility Lift Test is an isotonic exercise (i.e., fixed resistance) that will be customized according to the specific physical requirements of the job. The job applicant will be tested using one and/or both procedures, after which an opinion will be rendered in conjunction with the medical data gathered during physical examination. The final medical ruling will indicate if the job applicant has been deemed "qualified" to perform the essential job functions or deemed "unqualified" to meet the physical qualifications of the job. The final ruling will only be shared with you, the employer, and not the applicant.

Enhanced work skills assessment is a more comprehensive physical agility evaluation performed by licensed and registered doctors of physical therapy. Similar to the above standard work skills assessment, an in-depth review of the job description and functional job requirements must be performed, which very often includes personal observation of the job(s) in question. Upon completion of this step, a comprehensive physical demands analysis will be prepared and shared with you for your review and approval. The analysis is divided into three major groupings, including 1) Musculoskeletal screening, including extremity range of motion, spinal range of motion, posture assessment, strength assessment and special testing, if needed; 2) Functional activities, including aerobic fitness, mobility assessments, manual dexterities, grip strength and isometric strength; and 3) Functional lifting. The test is administered and evaluated by a physical therapist. Vitals (i.e., blood pressure and heart rate) are periodically measured during the test and they're recorded along with all tests results. At the conclusion of the test a final opinion is shared with HealthWorks' medical provider. The final medical ruling will be based on the results of the physical agility evaluation plus the medical data gathered during physical examination. Once again, the final medical ruling will only be made available to you, the employer, whereupon the job applicant will have been found to be "qualified" to perform the essential job functions or deemed "unqualified" to meet the physical qualifications of the job.

Similar to the above two work skills assessments, premium work skills assessment provides a strength and agility test that matches an applicant's physical capability to the job's physical demands. However, unlike the previous options, this approach relies on the use of ADA compliant, patented isokinetic measurement equipment to objectively measure muscle strength and range of motion for knees, shoulders and lower back. The test is considered a non-medical exam by the EEOC. In order to utilize this approach, a Job Task Analysis (JTA) will be performed to identify (or corroborate, if already existing) the essential job functions and the minimum skills and physical capabilities an applicant must possess in order to perform those functions. The JTA data is then converted to a Body Index Score (BIS), which represents a numerical range for the job's strength level. The job applicant is then tested using the isokinetic measuring equipment. The test will yield an applicant BIS rating. The applicant BIS rating is then systematically compared to the minimum BIS required for the job. An applicant whose BIS exceeds the minimum BIS rating required for the job is considered physically capable of performing that job's essential job functions. As with all work skills assessments, the final medical ruling will be based on the objective, non-medical results of the strength and agility test as well as the medical data gathered during physical examination, and it will be made available only to you, the employer. Outside the realm of post-offer pre-employment testing, the Premium works skills assessment also offers several other advantages to employers. These added benefits can be addressed under separate cover, if desired.

While not entirely in the same category as the above work skills assessments, wrist evaluations are a mainstay in the diagnosis of certain nerve compression syndromes. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome are among the most common types of neuropathy resulting from entrapped or compressed nerves at the wrist and elbow. For the employer, it is important to identify compression neuropathies in job applicants because these disorders may severely limit, restrict or even prevent an applicant from performing certain essential job functions.