Services
Work Center
Mercy Work Center is an outpatient clinic specializing in the management and treatment of worker compensation injuries. A physician first examines the patient and refers him/her to the Mercy Work Center for rehabilitative treatment. The patient's employer and insurance company is contacted to inform them of the physician's recommendations, obtain approval for treatment and enlist their assistance in the treatment of the injured worker.
An initial evaluation is performed by a licensed Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist. The initial evaluation may include tests for flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and functional abilities. The results are used to plan an individualized work conditioning program, job simulation program, and/or return to work.
Job Simulation and Work Hardening
- These services include conditioning activities that simulate the individual's normal work. This treatment provides endurance training while educating the worker in safe work habits and postures. We have specialized equipment that is capable of simulating almost any work activity at varying levels of resistance.
Functional Capacity Evaluations (F.C.E.)
- This assessment tool determines a worker's safe maximum abilities including lifting, carrying, climbing, repeated bending, reaching, hand dexterity, endurance activities and more. This is used to identify safe working levels when a worker is returning to a specific job or is changing jobs due to an injury. This test provides valid results, offering accurate return to work limits. A Functional Abilities Profile is included and clearly summarizes the frequency of each activity and will recommend workplace accommodations as needed.
Job Site Analysis and Ergonomics
- Onsite ergonomic assessments are available for individuals having difficulty at work. The Work Center staff also can assess departments or work areas prone to injuries to provide suggestions for changes and/or improvements.
Pre-employment Job Specific Screenings
- This is a job specific screen, given to a potential employee to determine if he/she can safely perform the critical job demands. We identify the primary functions of each job and test the individual on each critical job task. This will provide the physician and employer with objective data to assist in either recommending or discouraging employment for the individual with a specific job description.
Injury Prevention Education
- Education is a key element for prevention of injury. Instruction includes anatomy, body mechanics, lifting techniques, ergonomics and exercise. Education helps an individual understand his/her injury and ways to prevent re-injury. Community based education also is available to area businesses tailored specifically to their educational needs.
Mercy Work Center
Located at Cheslea Creek
1501 Fourth Street SW
Mason City, IA 50401
641.422.5445 or 1.800.433.3883, ext. 5445
