Workplace Health

Active Rehabilitation

With a focus on what the worker can do, active rehabilitation and pain education are the cornerstones to our treatment. Our Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists work closely together in the same locations enabling injured workers are treated promptly and according to their requirements. Injured workers are also encouraged and educated to take the lead in injury rehabilitation, achieving long term positive outcomes.

Graduated Return to Work Plans

Successfully returning an injured worker to the workplace requires planning. As needs may vary throughout the return to work process, plans are individually tailored according to functional capacity and the required duties. Accessibility to our rehabilitation centres is time efficient, as we have four complete rehabilitation centres across Adelaide. Each centre is equipped with a full range of aerobic and resistance equipment enabling our Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy team the best resources to emulate the physical demands of the workplace to best prepare the worker.

The graduated return to work plan will either be completed by the treating Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist. This will depend on which allied health would be better suited and will vary from case to case. Having access to job dictionaries enhances the ability to link functional capacity to the tasks a worker can successfully complete.

Worksite Assessments

When the treating Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist conduct a worksite assessment, greater accuracy to the functional requirements are determined as well as screening any potential risks. This not only improves the probability of a successful return to work but also assists in tailoring the treatments in accordance to the demands of the job.

Functional capacity evaluations

The WORKHAB FCE accredited assessment protocol is used to accurately determine worker functional capabilities.

We are staffed with WorkHab Accredited Functional Capacity Evaluators to perform functional capacity evaluations according to the WorkHab protocol. WorkHab’s Functional Capacity Evaluation System is an assessment designed to determine an individual’s capacity for work, and matching a worker to suitable job related tasks via obtaining objective physical information.

WorkHab Protocol assesses the following:

• Strength
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Postural tolerance testing
• Safe manual handling
• Endurance lifting
• Safe maximal lifting
• Safe maximal carrying loads
• Job simulated task testing

The assessment is 4hrs in duration, with the option of on-site assessments if required.

Case conferencing

Clear communication throughout the treatment process is critical to achieve positive outcomes for workers and employers. Return to work case conferencing connects the worker, GP, employer, other treatment providers and insurers at the right time to best support return to work. Return to work case conferencing enhances communication between all stakeholders to facilitate and support recovery at work.

Pre-employments

Improving safety performance can be achieved by screening candidates that are most suited to the role within your organisation before they are employed. Strict protocols have been developed to ensure appropriate and consistent screening measures are obtained, and accurate recommendations are made. In addition to our standard protocols, we can tailor pre-employment medicals to meet any relevant health concerns or specific requirements you may have in your organisation.

Each assessment is approximately 45min in duration and is completed by either our Physiotherapists or Exercise Physiologists. Candidates can booked in at any of our four locations across Adelaide.

Manual handling

Our training workshops reduce the risk of injury with simple, practical and realistic techniques.

Work hardening

With our team of Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists working closely together, workers receive the treatments they require. Implementing early intervention that is evidence based, lead to reduced lost time injury rates.

All physical conditioning programmes are essentially designed and implemented to the demands of the job for a successful transition back into the work place. With a large range of resistance and aerobic based equipment, accurate job dictionaries, programmes are tailored and commence with intensive one on one sessions, and progress to cost effective small group supervised sessions. Where possible, work related tasks are simulated to ensure safe work techniques to minimise the risk of re-injury.

At the completion of the physical conditioning programme, final assessments are conducted to determine the readiness of a safe return to work.

Early intervention treatments

Taking a pro-active approach in injury treatment can possibly prevent an official return to work claim. With minimal waiting times, AEP’s treating Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can provide an injured worker with treatment and an expert opinion. This has no financial impact if a claim is lodged, as it will commence from the date of the injury.

Job dictionaries

Getting a worker back to work quickly after a work injury increases the likelihood of a full recovery and return to work. Job dictionaries are a useful tool for identifying suitable duties that can be performed while they recover from their injury. Having a job/task breakdown and guidance on the physical demands required for each task, injury risks and how each task can be performed safely can facilitate an early return.

Job dictionaries are an essential communication aid for people involved in planning and facilitating a worker’s recovery and return to work.

Educational workshops

We pride ourselves on delivering cost effective services as we understand the financial pressure placed upon companies. On-site seminars are a great way to educate workers, assisting with the prevention and management of injuries.

Seminars to choose from include:

• Back care and mobility
• Shoulder stability and strength
• Manual handling
• Work-life balance
• Eating well to live well – impact of dietary choices on your health
• Physical activity – are you getting enough?

Seminars are 60min in duration.

Injury Prevention

Return to Work SA statistics indicate that over a third of injuries could be prevented if appropriate injury prevention and management strategies were in place. AEP can assist organisations looking to improve the health and resilience of their workers which in turn will lead to reduced work injury claims and a happier more productive workforce.

We achieve this by educating and training workers regarding injury prevention, while fast tracking physical rehabilitation and ensuring a safe and swift return to work in the event of a work place injury.

Minimal waiting times

Our four purposely built rehabilitation clinics across metropolitan Adelaide provide easy access and minimal waiting times. Each clinic is staffed with Accredited Allied Health professionals employed directly by AEP, ensuring continuity of care through all stages of the physical rehabilitation process.