Assessment Services, Assistance Programs, Group Presentations & Regional Visitation Schedules, Team, E-Counselling (Members Only)
Location: {Science Centre} Contact: {Walter}

The Behavioural Sciences Centre (BSC) is a profit centre for St. Joseph's Care Group in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Officially opened in 1987, its purpose is to provide multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary assessment, consultation, training and intervention services to corporations, agencies and the community on a fee-for-service basis.

Counsellors

The Behavioural Sciences Centre (BSC) is a member of St. Joseph's Care group in Thunder Bay. BSC carries a well-established reputation as a centre of excellence within the region, having offered a broad variety of occupationally-oriented assessment, consultation, and intervention services for more than a decade. These standards of excellence have earned BSC the designations of Regional Evaluation Centre for WSIB, and Medical/Rehab. Designated Assessment Centre for the Ontario Insurance Commission. Our assessment services are utilized by several public and private sector employers in Northwestern Ontario.

Assessment services and reports provided by BSC are designed to meet the needs of individual referants. Some of these services include:

Our strength lies in providing a truly independent, objective assessment. We will declare any conflict of interest prior to accepting your referral and will never recommend specific treatment programs or service providers based on our assessment results.

BSC offers a highly qualified and experienced team of health care professionals from within the Care Group, the community, and other cities as required. Our team consists of, but is not limited to:

Our reports are written in clear and concise language and are intended to answer the questions posed.

Case conferences can be arranged as well as follow-up visits to the worksite or home.

The goal of the IME/MDHA is to provide the referant with timely information about a person's diagnosis, prognosis, need for further treatment, and ability to return to work or resume a regular routine.

During the assessment, the physician and/or chiropractor will review pertinent medical history, treatment to date, and conduct a physical examination. A physiotherapist also reviews relevant documentation and then evaluates the person's range of motion, strength, and neurological state. All examiners discuss their findings and also review assessment results with the person undergoing evaluation.

Appointments with most specialists are scheduled within 10 working days of a referral, with a comprehensive report completed within 10 working days of the examination.

ERGOS Evaluation:

ERGOS Work Simulator

The objective assessment of physical capacities is a process critical to making decisions about an injured individual's ability to return to the pre-injury job, an alternative job, or other lifestyle activities.

The FAE consists of two components:

1. Five-part ERGOS evaluation
2. Physical Fitness Assessment

The ERGOS system of measurement is driven and controlled by a computerized local area network consisting of five computers linked to a master station. Each computer is dedicated to a separate panel that measures a specific cluster of physical abilities including static and dynamic strength, whole body range of motion, work endurance, standing work endurance, and seated range of motion. ERGOS utilizes a standardized protocol during the evaluation process. It produces an accurate, reproducible and objective measurement of an individual's performance relative to a variety of criteria such as:

• Specific job requirements/job description
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Methods Time Measurement (MTM) standards

The physiotherapist also evaluates the individual's range of motion, sensation, and general strength. The Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness may also be administered to measure flexibility, grip strength, upper body and abdominal endurance, and aerobic fitness.

The worksite assessment is intended to identify areas of employer/employee concern and to facilitate safer and more satisfying working conditions.

Our occupational therapist or ergonomist will review relevant job descriptions and then visit the work place to interview the supervisor and employee. Problems with workstation design and work methods are discussed and whenever possible, recommendations are offered on the spot.

A report outlining findings and recommendations, written in clear and concise language is forwarded to the employer. Relevant research information may also be included.

Work fitness testing identifies a worker's physical suitability for a specific job as well as any potential risks for injury. These tests are typically administered after an applicant has been offered the position.

Our occupational therapist will review the relevant job description and using the ERGOS Work Simulator and Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness, assess whether or not the evaluee meets the physical requirements of the job. The assessment takes approximately one and one-half hours to complete.

A report outlining findings, written in clear and concise language is forwarded to the employer.

The goal of the PDA is to identify job requirements and the capabilities needed to perform the job.

Our occupational therapist reviews the relevant job descriptions and then visits the worksite to observe the job being performed.

Measurements are taken to identify the intensity of effort required, the amount of time the effort has to be sustained continuously, and the pattern of exertion over the total shift.

A report outlining the physical demands of the job is sent back to the worksite to be reviewed by the employer and the employee. The final report is signed by the worksite representative, as well as the occupational therapist, and forwarded to the referant.

In our role as a Medical and Rehabilitation Designated Assessment Centre (DAC), and Catastrophic Impairment Assessment Centre approved by the Ontario Insurance Commission, we provide objective assessments and recommendations on issues arising from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents.

The purpose of the DAC is twofold:

1. To determine if current or proposed treatment, goods, or services are reasonable and necessary
2. To recommend further medical treatment and/or rehabilitation services if required

Each member of our assessment team is approved by the Ontario Insurance Commission, with expertise in physical, cognitive, vocational, and mental health issues.

All procedures respect the guidelines established by the Ontario Insurance Commission and in most instances are coordinated to eliminate the insured's need for multiple visits.

The Vocational Assessment is intended to "match" a person's abilities (aptitudes) with the specific reasoning and learning requirements of a job or training goal. This type of assessment is often requested for persons who are unable to return to work in their typical job or lifestyle activities due to the restrictions imposed by an injury. A vocational assessment can also help persons to identify vocational alternatives that are consistent with their aptitudes, interests, skills, and physical abilities. A transferable skills analysis may also be included with each report.

The Vocational Assessment test battery will typically consist of:

• Aptitude Testing (General Aptitude Test Battery)
• Work Preferences (Interest Testing)
• Literacy/Numeracy Skills
• Transferable Skills Analysis where indicated

The Psycho-Vocational Assessment includes all tests shown above, and adds psychodiagnostic testing to identify psychological factors relevant to the reason for referral.

The resulting report provides a comprehensive analysis of the evaluee's measured abilities, skills and interests, as well as a listing of potential vocational alternatives based on the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Recommendations are stated clearly and directly address referral questions. When available, the findings of a Functional Abilities Evaluation (FAE) can be incorporated into the Vocational Assessment.

Neuropsychological Assessment

A general neuropsychological assessment includes an extensive investigation of cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal functioning. Such an assessment requires a full day of evaluation. Briefer neuropsychological assessments can be tailored to address specific questions about particular areas of function.

Referrals

Children (aged 5 and older) and adults with documented or suspected brain injury are appropriate for referral. Brain injury is often overlooked in incidents in which there is either no loss of consciousness, as well as in cases of severe orthopaedic injury. Any individual who has difficulty with typical or familiar tasks following an accident should be referred for this type of assessment.

Neuropsychological Report

The resulting comprehensive report can:

• Establish the likelihood of brain damage
• Identify the likely location and extent of brain damage
• Determine whether the damage evident is consistent with the kind of damage typically sustained in a similar accident
• Be used to recommend appropriate rehabilitation strategies, given the pattern of strengths and weaknesses
• Provide an estimate of the prognosis and time-frame for recovery

Other Psychological Assessments

The Behavioural Sciences Centre also offers a variety of psychological assessment services including evaluation of: