Clinical Consult

I have been contacted by a local orthopod who specializes in foot/ankle care.  He has access to a POPTS clinic, however, is seeking answers from my freestanding outpatient clinic.  He was wondering if there are any specific FCE protocols for foot/ankle.  He treats a large population of crush injuries and is looking for someone else to rehab and test his worker's comp. population because the clinic he is currently using cannot provide him with testing.  Any help would be appreciated. 

Jo

Comments

[Todd Watson]

I'd just caution you against helping him in providing better protocols to his POPTS.

Todd

[Robin Saunders Ryan]

Amen to what Todd said, and it's really a dumb question (from the orthopod), showing he doesn't really "get" what an FCE should do. Its a relatively easy thing for an experienced occupational PT/OT to determine what the functional goals are, then devise a specific functional test to match abilities to goals. If the patient doesn't have specific job-related goals, then it's still a relatively simple thing to devise a multi-hour test to functionally stress the patient to determine response to stress in a variety of generic functional activities (sit, stand, push, pull, repetitive squatting, lifting, etc...). If he doesn't have access to a PT/OT who has the experience to know how to do these things, then I would help him find one (as opposed to trying to educate his PT for him).

Robin Saunders Ryan

[Baron Johnson]

I echo Todd in that helping the MD produce a better product will enhance his reputation thereby having more WC patient's being directed to the POPTs clinic. Setting up a test battery for an FCE is really the easy part of the FCE. Interpretation of the results and observation of the workers' skill in the activities and physical demand testing is the art.

[Sean]

I would tell him to have his clients perform a rapid exchange grip test, floor to knuckle lifts, and the Purdue Pegboard. See what he thinks of that.