Isernhagen Work Systems - Portfolio
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Isernhagen Work Systems' suite of injury management and prevention tools are widely regarded as the gold standard because they have been proven to be the most effective in addressing the full continuum of employers' needs from pre-hire to retire/exit.

Functional Job Analysis (FJA)

The IWS Functional Job Analysis (FJA) is a comprehensive, structured process to identify and quantify the physical components of jobs. Our FJA includes identifying the essential functions and critical demands of a job, identifying tools and other equipment used, taking all appropriate work site measurements such as forces/distances/repetitions, and identifying potential modifications. A FJA results in 3 principal end-products:

  1. Recommendations for eliminating risks of injury, such as hazards and stressors, by
    • Workplace redesign
    • Changes in work practices
    • Training
    • Conditioning
  2. A Functional Job Description (FJA) - described below
  3. Basis for designing a Prework Screen - described below

 

Uses of FJAs

  • Identify issues for ergonomic intervention
  • Analyze work that precedes injury prevention education program development
  • Define factors for work site design/redesign
  • Analyze for job rotation options
  • Document job tasks for
    • Hiring decisions/placement
    • Prework Screening
    • Advancement/promotion
    • Performance evaluations

"Hands on" FJA Training includes:

  • One day training with an IWS faculty member, experienced in job analysis.
  • Analysis of a REAL job!
  • Work site training with your team assisting in identifying critical demands, taking all measurements, identifying potential modifications, and writing a functional job description (FJD).
  • Onsite training enables an employer to see the depth of the training and FJA process.

IWS FJA Procedure Manual includes:

  • Purpose, methods and outcomes of FJAs
  • FJA process flow chart
  • Anthropometric data
  • Step-by-step procedures
  • An employee/supervisor questionnaire
  • Definitions of essential job functions and critical demands
  • An ergonomic profile
  • Blank forms
  • Sample job descriptions
  • Sample job matrix
  • Access to pertinent articles

 

Functional Job Description (FJD)

Our Functional Job Description (FJD), developed from a thorough Functional Job Analysis (FJA), catalogs the activities and physical functional demands of specific jobs. It is validated for compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Canadian Human Rights legislation, and other international anti-discrimination laws

Our Functional Job Description includes:

  • Job title
  • Job objective (s)
  • Essential job functions
  • Non-essential functions
  • Equipment used
  • Significant work measurements
  • Critical demands
  • Possible modifications
  • Reasonable accommodations

Prework Screen

Our Prework Screen (PWS) is a functional test to determine an individual's ability to perform the physical requirements of a specific job. The IWS screening process insures a match between the worker and the work in a non-discriminatory manner.

The PWS Procedure Manual includes:

  • Clear objectives and outlines
  • Step-by-step guidelines for setting up a post-offer PWS
  • Validation process of a PWS
  • Sample consent form
  • Sample FJD/PWS
  • The ethical and legal issues to consider when performing a PWS
  • Access to pertinent articles

"Hands on" PWS Training includes:

  • One day training with an IWS faculty member, experienced in designing PWSs
  • Design of an actual PWS developed from a REAL FJA and FJD
  • How to perform PWS validation

The Isernhagen Work Systems Prework Screening Program is:

  • ADA compliant. Because it matches worker with specific jobs. Prework Screening allows the employer to make hiring decisions in a legal, fair, and nondiscriminatory way.
  • Content valid. Because it replicates the job, no expensive statistical analysis is needed. It is accurate, yet relatively inexpensive to develop. Employers appreciate the accuracy, legality and cost effectiveness of this standardized approach.
  • Accurate. True testing means no inferential leaps. A PWS will accurately identify those individuals incapable of performing the work and thus decrease workers' compensation costs.
  • Worker-accepted. Workers understand their jobs and their ability to perform them. Costly, morale damaging litigation is avoided. In fact, our PWS has shown to encourage workers to become more fit.
  • Progressive. Development of screens leads to the identification of needs for ergonomic modifications. As a result, jobs may be made safer, thus decreasing injury and workers' compensation costs. ADA-compliant "reasonable" accommodations can be designed.

 

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

Our Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a physical test designed to comprehensively measure an injured worker's abilities. Once understood, those abilities can be matched to the specific tasks of jobs. Our FCE includes 29 work-related functional activities that are evaluated over a two-part format for accuracy. Our approach combines the highest level of safety with objective findings.

Computerized Internet FCE

We offer the first Web-based FCE. It saves time in generating an FCE summary report. Our Internet FCE can be transmitted to referral sources easily, to IWS for critiquing, into the outcome study database, etc. All that is needed is high speed Internet access and a computer in the testing area. This tool is designed so that the data is entered as the FCE is being performed.

IWS FCE Procedure Manual includes:

  • All of the necessary guidelines for performing a full, 2-day standardized FCE
  • 9 critical assessment techniques
  • Client history and physical exam forms
  • Testing score sheets
  • Precise and straightforward form guidelines
  • Clear guidelines for performing a modified FCE
  • 13-point consistency checklist
  • Sample job descriptions
  • Sample summary reports
  • Useful reference information regarding Grip and Pinch, PCE Hand Coordination, and Spinal Function Sort
  • The ability to participate in Isernhagen Work Systems' return-to-work outcomes research

"Hands on" FCE Training includes:

  • 2 days training with an IWS faculty member, experienced in performing FCEs.
  • Performing a REAL FCE on a practice client, with emphasis on documenting the objective findings and writing a REAL FCE summary report. You will be ready to begin doing IWS FCEs immediately after the hands on training.
  • Learn how to integrate the history and physical exam with the 29 functional activities and learn how to job match.

Why the IWS FCE is the WORLD LEADER

  • Used with scientific, employer and medical confidence in 44 states and 14 countries.
  • The strongest medical base of any FCE
  • Proven outcome research and ability for all IWS FCE providers to enter their own data
  • Reliability and validity researched and published
  • Medical/legal validation that is unmatched
  • Experts available for ongoing consultation and quality assurance

Quotes:

"My referral sources use me because I am an Isernhagen provider! They look to the objective information from the IWS FCE to answer the question, 'Can my client return to work; if not, what can they do?'"

- IWS Provider, Union City TN

"The IWS FCE has allowed us to meet our referral sources' needs by providing usable return to work information. They also appreciate the clear, concise FCE summary report I provide."

- IWS Provider, Tucson AZ

"Being able to call IWS and receive consultation and clinical support has saved us a tremendous amount of time and frustration."

- IWS Provider, Greenwood SC

 

Work Rehabilitation (WR)

Our Work Rehabilitation program is an outcome-oriented, cost-effective, industry-linked program that consists of Work Hardening and Work Conditioning. Our approach to WR enables the design of an effective goal-oriented, job specific program to facilitate return-to-work when physical limitations exist.

Our WR Procedure Manual includes:

  • Initial, interim, and discharge evaluation formats
  • Clarification of where work hardening fits into a total injury program
  • Explanation of when and where work conditioning is most appropriate
  • Clear guidelines on how to:
    • Develop a marketing plan
    • Achieve and maintain good relationships with employers
    • Manage difficult clients
    • Ensure client compliance
  • Practical advice on what staff needs and their functions
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Ability to implement a floor plan work simulation design
  • Program documentation forms
  • Identification of progress report recipients
  • The best discharge evaluation
  • Ergonomic job analysis application

"Hands on" WR Training includes:

  • One day training with an IWS faculty member, experienced in program development & design, job simulation and working with a variety of referrers.
  • Developing a job-specific work rehab program based on your current staff, equipment, space, budget, referrers, etc. At the end of the training day, you will have a goal-oriented and targeted work rehab program design ready to implement!
  • Participation of your entire work rehab team in WR program development and design.

The Isernhagen Work Systems Work Rehabilitation Program:

  • Safely returns workers to productive work
  • Demonstrates effectiveness through outcome studies
  • Integrates 4 necessary components:
    • Work simulation
    • Physical reconditioning
    • Aerobic training
    • Education and safety
  • Follows the worker-centered kinesiophysical approach.
  • Connects to all of your current treatment programs, including acute treatment, the FCE, ergonomics, FJA, and PWS.
  • Secures positive results. For example, 85% (310 of 366) of the clients who were in the return to work process and who completed the Work Conditioning program returned to work!
     

Quote:

"Providing the Isernhagen Work Systems Work Rehabilitation program has allowed our facility to develop individualized work rehabilitation. Now our programs are structured and goal-oriented. Employers prefer our cost-effective and outcome-driven rehabilitation."

- IWS Provider, Iowa