Work Performance and Ergonomics

Horizon Rehabilitation Centers has trained ergonomic service providers who can provide pre-employment physical function screening, individual office ergonomics, call center ergonomics, industrial ergonomics, patient- handling risk analysis, on-site early intervention, and on-site physical therapy. These programs are established to help organizations hire the right people, avoid injuries, and get injured employees back to work in the most effective manner possible.

Work Conditioning Programs

Horizon Rehabilitation Centers “Return to Work” Program is designed for the injured worker who is partially or completely off of work due to a neck or back injury, with the goal being to expedite return to work at 100% function.

This program places a greater emphasis on work conditioning and lifting capacities progressions. This program offers extensive education and hands-on training in the areas of proper body mechanics and lifting techniques, postural retraining and ergonomics assessments. In addition, patients will receive instruction and on-going training in home exercise progression and symptom management.

During each visit, both lifting and carrying capacities are closely monitored for safety and is increased as tolerated. We can then use this data to accurately adjust work restrictions for a more timely return to work. This may also alleviate the need for a Functional Capacity Evaluation and can help reduce the overall cost of a patient's medical care.

Return to Work Testing

Return to Work (RTW) testing helps the post-injury employee, employer, and their physician make informative and evidence-based decisions regarding the employee ability to return to work. Horizon Rehabilitation Centers utilize the Physical Capacity Profile Testing System to assist in the comprehensive collection of multiple strength measurements that are used to determine if the employee has the physical strength to safely return to the physical demands of their job.

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)

The FCE is a comprehensive, objective testing of a person’s ability in work-related tasks. The FCE measures specific abilities in material handling (lifting tasks), and non-material handling (positions and movements).  In addition, the worker’s degree of effort, performance consistency, and self-limiting behavior is assessed and documented.  The staff at Horizon Rehabilitation Centers has the ability to customize the FCE according to each particular case so that recommendations for return to work, further intervention, or case closure can be efficiently and effectively made.

Pre-Employment Screening 

Horizon Rehabilitation Centers staff is trained to utilize the Physical Capacity Profile Testing System to assist an employer in hiring individuals that are physically capable of performing the critical job demands for which they are being hired.  The screening process will help employers identify when the offer of employment can be withdrawn based on the applicant’s inability to safely perform the job requirements.  This will protect both the employer and the applicant seeking employment.  Horizon Rehabilitation Centers perform pre-employment screening at the 90th and Burt location for over 50 companies in the Omaha and Council Bluff areas as well as the Department of Homeland Security.

Ergonomic Consultation/Job-Site Evaluations

Horizon Rehabilitation Centers has partnered with a leading ergonomic and technology provider, Atlas Ergonomics, to assist our customers reduce the spiraling costs of work-related injuries within the industrial, office, commercial transportation, warehouse, public transit, and healthcare environments.  Horizon Rehabilitation Centers offers ergonomic consultation and job-site evaluations to identify postures, positions, and job-specific activities that contribute to acute or cumulative trauma stresses.  The evaluation is tailored to the individual and their area of concern whether it is cervical or lumbar spine, upper or lower extremity, or the whole body.  Local companies that we serve include Ameritrade, IBM, United Health Care, and Farm Credit Services.

Safety Education Seminars

Workplace environment prevention and management training is designed to educate management and employees with skills and knowledge to manage and prevent workplace injuries.