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Chapter:
CLIENT SERVICES
Subject:
PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT
Authorization:
Board of Directors’ Minute - November 15, 1994
Effective Date:
November 15, 1994
Last Update:
February 25, 2010
REFERENCE:
DEFINITION:
In this policy
1. “Alternate care options” means programs recommended by health care providers such as
Home-based self care or referrals to other programs.
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
6. “Supportive care” means treatment that is therapeutically necessary for workers, who
have reached their maximum recovery from a work related injury, to maintain a
maximum level of recovery. Supportive care would only be considered after the
appropriate application of active and passive care either from health care providers or
through lifestyle modifications.
POLICY:
• Acute care therapy which will include treatments within a four week period.
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
Supportive Care
The Workers Compensation Board may pay for supportive care where a worker:
Supportive care, when approved by the Workers Compensation Board, may be provided
for up to twelve sessions per year provided a written request from a treating physician
has been made, outlining treatment goals.
Physiotherapy Extensions
4. The Workers Compensation Board may initially approve up to four consecutive weeks of
physiotherapy treatment per new injury or disease. Where the worker has returned to
work at full duties or on a return to work program within the first four weeks of
treatment, the physiotherapist may continue treatments for two additional weeks, if
required, without requesting an extension from the Workers Compensation Board. If the
physiotherapist believes treatment should continue beyond the six weeks, a request for an
extension must be made by the end of the fifth week of treatment.
5. Where the worker has not returned to work within the first four weeks of treatment and
the physiotherapist believes treatment should continue, a request for an extension must be
made by the end of the third week of treatment.
6. Extensions will be considered where there are specific medical conditions affecting the
worker. Extensions will normally be limited to a maximum of four weeks. Extensions
will not be approved where maximum function has been achieved and treatment goals are
solely for pain relief.
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
Work Conditioning
7. Work conditioning therapy includes treatment over a four week period and will work in
conjunction with the Ease Back Program. Requests for work conditioning therapy can be
considered only when a report is submitted by the treating physiotherapist indicating the
medical need for such conditioning. The Workers Compensation Board may request a
medical examination from a treating physician to support this request.
Functional Scan
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
treatment.
9. The Fitness for Work Assessment is typically administered in the sub-acute phase of the
recovery process. This assessment consists of a comprehensive musculoskeletal
assessment (performed by a Physiotherapist, not performed by the same treating
physiotherapist if being treated at the same clinic) and functional scan (including
objective testing of sitting, standing, and walking tolerances). Two or three key positional
tolerances may also be tested depending on essential job demands and nature of injury.
Job demands are obtained through a job analysis, the Workers Compensation Board, or
the worker as confirmed by the employer. In addition, screening tools for psychological
issues and self-perception are also administered. The report provides a comparison
between demonstrated abilities and required job demands and makes specific
recommendations for return to work that can be utilized by the Workers Compensation
Board when designing easebacks.
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
The Functional Capacity Evaluation quantifies safe functional abilities and is a pivotal
resource for return to work and job placement decisions and disability evaluation.
Where the Workers Compensation Board requests a functional capacity evaluation, the
Treating Clinic shall conduct the assessment in a timely fashion and shall provide a report to
the Workers Compensation Board generally at a case conference within two weeks of the
completion of the assessment.
Recurrences
11. Where a worker files a claim for a recurrence, the physiotherapist shall complete an
initial assessment with recommendations for treatment. Approval for treatment will not
be granted beyond the initial assessment until the claim has been adjudicated by the
Workers Compensation Board.
12. The Workers Compensation Board will establish an agreement to provide service
standard expectations and fee schedules with private practice physiotherapists.
The Workers Compensation Board will only pay for modalities of care approved and
recognized by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and accepted by the Workers
Compensation Board.
HISTORY:
February 25, 2010 - Amended to include sections on “Functional Scan”, “Functional Capacity
Evaluation”, and a “Fitness For Work Assessment”.
April 24, 2008 - Amended #6 to clarify the criteria for approving extensions of physiotherapy
treatments.
October 25, 2007 - Amended “Phase 1” in #1 of the policy and also added a definition of “work
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POLICY NUMBER: POL04-07
conditioning”.
February 28, 2005 - Amended to ensure the policy is clear with respect to approval of extensions
of physiotherapy treatments and recurrences.
May 30, 2002 - Replaces Policy and Practice Physiotherapy Treatments dated November 15,
1994.
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