PREMIER VOCATIONAL EVALUATION AND REHABILITATION COMPANY

Selected Case Summaries

Case Summary #1 — Long Term Disability, Return-to-Work

Background:

• D. B. was a 38-year-old heavy line engine mechanic with a new car dealership.
• Diagnosis: Failed back surgery syndrome. His injury was from an at-home fall.
• High school educated with formal auto-mechanic training, and he expressed interest in returning to work.
• The attending physician was reluctant to release D. B. despite a gradual improving trend.
• Referral for vocational case management was 23 months post injury.

Approach:

Consultant developed a close working relationship with the car dealership employer and arranged to perform two on-site job analyses with photography. Consultant conducted both a job analysis of D. B.’s position at injury, and an analysis of an alternate position, Service Writer. The purpose of the analyses was to educate his treatment team, uncover potential accommodations, and identify alternate employment.

Service Provided:

• Two narrative, on-site job analyses with photography.
• Exploration and coordination of job accommodation, in order to provide weight-load relief to D. B., at his option.
• In the course of analyzing the heavy line mechanic position, consultant collaborated with the first-line supervisor and coordinated the availability of jigs and lifts, for D. B.’s use.
• Then, consultant arranged a rehabilitation meeting with both the attending physician and D. B.

Outcome:

On-site job analyses raised the employer’s awareness of D. B.’s value as an employee and that job accommodation was simple and cost-effective. The physician was provided written and visual documentation of essential functions and physical demands of D. B.’s position, with weight-relief strategies. Upon review, the physician released D. B. to work and D. B. returned to his position the following day. Case closed rehabilitated.

Case Summary #2 — Out-of-State, Long Term Disability

Background:

• T. U. was a 37-year-old Heavy Utility Electrical Lineman, in Florida.
• Diagnosis: Severe ankle fracture, ICD9 824.
• Presented with long-term specialized utility craft skills and was totally disabled from the required pole climbing of his trade.
• He had high school education and expressed interest in his avocations of outdoor conservation and wildlife.
• Case referred for vocational services 8 months post injury.

Approach:

After thoroughly exploring all possible return-to-work options with T. U.’s employer at injury, T. U. and consultant developed a close working relationship toward suitable, career job placement. Based on his transferable skills and learned employer approach strategies, and following a systematic weekly job search plan, T. U. obtained full and suitable re-employment.

Services Performed:

• All interventions were telephonic and by correspondence.
• Consultant provided full placement services including: Labor market survey, functional resume’ development, networking skills training, reference development, employer approach strategies, and job interview skills training, job development, employer introductions, and post-placement follow-up.
• Before each interview, T. U. and consultant carefully practiced answering typical and difficult interview questions.

Outcome:

T. U. obtained career employment with the State of Florida as a Park Ranger within 6 months of initiation of vocational rehabilitation services. His base income with the State was $ 2,200 monthly, which exceeded the LTD wage replacement amount of $ 2,158. New employment resulted in a total wage-benefit offset, and the case closed successfully rehabilitated.

Case Summary #3 — California Workers’ Compensation

Background:

• B. K. was a 41-year-old rehabilitation nurse, injured in his position at a California hospital, who relocated to Texas.
• Diagnosis: Status post IDET procedure, chronic pain syndrome—limited to sedentary work.
• Expressed interest in staying in the nursing field.
• Case referred for RU-102 plan development, 6 years post injury.

Approach:

In support of B. K.’s goal of nursing at the sedentary exertional level, the consultant collaborated with the medical team, attorneys, the QRC, and a correspondence school. The consultant helped B. K. identify and use his acquired transferable skills toward the certified case manager (CCM) credential.

Services Performed:

• Consultant worked closely with QRC Monitor to develop and submit an on-time and on-budget RU-102 plan.
• Rehabilitation process involved the consultant meeting with the claimant to explore fully the field of nurse case management and to discuss employer approaches and transition strategies. Labor market research confirmed the viability of the re-employment goal.
• A correspondence school was identified and researched for accreditation.
• As B. K. completed certification-training coursework, consulted conducted job development, job seeking skills trainings, functional resume’ development and facilitated employer introductions.

Outcome:

B. K. completed correspondence coursework within plan timeframes and cost limits. He attended an interview arranged by the consultant, and was hired as a home health service case manager. Case closed rehabilitated, within vocational rehabilitation plan parameters.

Case Summary #4 — Texas Workers’ Compensation

Background:

• E.V. was a 33-year-old primarily Spanish-speaking female with previous experience as a housekeeper in the United States and as a nurse in Mexico.
  
• Diagnosis: Status post back surgery, chronic pain syndrome, and depression. Whole body impairment of 15%.
• She expressed interest in using her acquired skills toward light nurse assisting and personal attending work, with a career goal of medication aide.
• Case referred for vocational services 19 months post injury.

Approach:

Consultant utilized a full team approach, collaborating with the physical therapist, the treating doctor and treating psychiatrist, the claimant’s attorney and the former Texas Rehabilitation Commission (State rehabilitation) - to facilitate suitable re-employment for E. V.

Services Performed:

• Initial vocational evaluation
• Meetings with medical providers to help ascertain MMI work capacities and work tolerance
• Acquired skills analysis, labor market research, collaboration with State rehab toward sponsorship in a short-term certified nurse aide training program
• Resume’ development, job-seeking skills training, provision of suitable job leads, and employer introductions.

Outcome:

After a 4-month certification program, E.V. obtained a new position as a 3rd-shift nurse aide in a downtown nursing home facility. Based on the rehabilitation team’s recommendation, she continued in ESL classes to build her English-language skills and to prepare for GED High School equivalency. The consultant’s vocational rehabilitation approach facilitated E.V. overcoming severe physical and mental disabilities as well as language barriers. E.V. was able to re-enter the workforce even after a long medical employment gap.

Case Summary #5- Texas Workers’ Compensation

Background:

• O.V. was a 41-year-old English and Spanish-speaking female with 19 years experience as a hotel waitress.
• Diagnosis: Status-post right knee arthroscopy and minescectomy. Whole body impairment of 17%.
• Case was referred for vocational services during the Impairment Income Benefit phase, 18 months post injury.

Approach:

Consultant worked closely with O.V. and her attorney to establish rapport and develop a suitable re-employment plan. Consulted re-focused O.V. on her acquired skills to plan for new employment with a sit-stand option. The plan also involved an on-site job analysis to set measurable rehabilitation goals for O.V.’s treatment team.

Services Performed:

• Initial vocational evaluation
• On-site job analysis, acquired skills analysis, labor market research, job-seeking skills training in regular meetings with O.V.
• Provision of suitable job leads, employer introductions, and post-placement follow-up.

Outcome:

Ultimately, O.V. successfully interviewed with another restaurant and obtained a new full-time cashier position, which allowed a sit-stand option throughout the workday. Placement was made within the one-year Impairment Income Benefit Period resulting in no (0) Supplemental Benefit exposure. The vocational rehabilitation approach focused on a supportive placement partnership with O.V., assisting her with the confidence and skills needed to approach employers effectively.

 

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