Medical Legal Assessments, Reports, Occupational Therapy and Case Management Services

Standardized examination usually performed over either one or two consecutive days to assess the client’s physical abilities relative to employment, leisure activities, and activities of daily living.

A thorough, multifaceted assessment that establishes medical and non-medical needs and related costs, based on the impact of the injuries sustained by the individual. A Certified Life Care Plan requires input and collaboration with medical specialists and therapists and includes their recommendations in order to remain within the Scope of Practice for the Certified Life Care Planner.

A Cost of Future Care Projection (CFCP) is an excellent workup providing a cost-effective point of departure for mediation. Assessments can be completed via telephone or video conference. The CFCP is prepared utilizing available medical documentation to ascertain the impact of the injuries sustained by the individual. Treatment providers and medical teams are typically not consulted in this phase.

The CFCP is a detailed report and includes tables with services, rationale and associated costs of care for the injured party over the long term. Should a Life Care Plan be required the CFCP becomes the foundation for the Life Care Plan

Evaluates the client’s education, training, experience, interests, aptitudes & other relevant factors associated with future employability and earnings.

Extensive education and training are critical in both conducting the evaluation and interpreting the results accurately. Furthermore, it is essential to articulate the findings with clarity and supported with relevant research.

A full review of medical records to provide an expert opinion, either verbal or written with respect to the subject’s functional capacities and/or care needs. Often counsel will request the document review ahead of mediation or in cases where in-person evaluations are not feasible. Document review is key when preparing a rebuttal/surrebuttal report in instances where sufficient, relevant medical evidence is readily available.

A case chronology is devised and structured to succinctly and accurately explain the client’s medical history for a judge and/or jury. Photographs and diagrams can be created at the request of counsel.

• Hospital Discharge Planning
• Attendant Care Needs Assessments (Form 1 completion)
• Identification of functional abilities and limitations, which affect a sustainable return to pre-injury activities, including self-care, leisure, home/community productivity, and employment.
• Assessment of the home and community environments and how these environments affect function, and provision of recommendations or interventions for environmental modifications to promote functional independence.
• Assessment of the workplace and job tasks, including physical, psychosocial, and cognitive demands, and provision of recommendations for job accommodations for clients with physical and cognitive dysfunction.
• Intervention to promote return to optimal physical and/or cognitive function after injury.

Comprehensive case management with clients who have multiple and complex issues including mental health, chronic pain, multiple trauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and amputations. Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, and monitors the options and services required to meet the client’s health and human services needs.

The Clinical Pre-Driving Assessment is for individuals who have a physical, cognitive or perceptual disability which may be impacting their ability to drive safely and independently. It is performed by an Occupational Therapist with training and experience specific to driver safety. The process involves gathering a medical history, physical assessment (range of motion, strength, sensation, and general mobility testing), as well as cognitive-behavioural and perceptual assessment (concentration, decision making, reaction time, judgement, and visual perception). Based on the results, recommendations regarding return to driving are made to Alberta Driver Fitness and Monitoring Branch. They will review the recommendations and make a decision on the client's fitness to drive and/or ability to proceed with an on-road evaluation. Road tests are booked independently by the client through the centre of their choice, such as AMA. Individuals who may benefit from this assessment include:

• Those whose license may be suspended or under review by Alberta Driver Fitness.
• Those who have experienced an injury or illness that may be affecting their ability to drive including brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, or age-related cognitive changes.
• Those with physical disabilities who require vehicle modifications to enable them to drive.