Our Services
Harbourside provides a comprehensive range of occupational therapy and vocational rehabilitation services. We are pleased to serve all of Nova Scotia (including Cape Breton), Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick. We offer daytime, evening or weekend appointments.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Ergonomic Assessments and Workstation Assessments
• Job Site Analysis (JSA) including Cognitive Demands Analysis (CDA) and/or Physical Demands Analysis (PDA)
• Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA) and Employability Assessments
• Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
• Case Management/Disability Management Counsulting including return to work rehabilitation services
• Workplace Wellness and Attendance Management
Occupational Therapy Services
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Services including Cognitive Function Screening and Services for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
• Wheelchair/Seating Assessments
• In-Home Functional Assessment
• Prevocational Activity Programs
• Mental Health Counselling
• Pain Management
To request a copy of our brochure, please send us an e-mail or contact us by telephone (902) 446-4442.
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VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES
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Ergonomic and Workstation Assessment
An employee’s work methods or workstation set-up can often be a contributor to pain or discomfort. An ergonomic assessment could mean the difference between having an employee at work - or having an employee on disability. When conducting an ergonomic assessment, our goals are to keep an employee on the job by decreasing their discomfort, improve an employee's productivity and/or bring an employee back to the workplace with a reduced risk of re-injury or strain through ergonomic enhancements or adjustments in their work methods or workstation.
We also conduct ergonomic and workstation assessments for employees not experiencing discomfort using a pro-active approach to prevent employee discomfort related to workstation arrangement. Our Consultants have also conducted ergonomic education sessions to groups of employees and we have provided training sessions to companies on how to ensure ergonomic principles are implemented in basic office workstations.
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Job Site Analysis (JSA)
This is an essential tool for the return to work process as it is used to match a person's functional abilities for a specific position. It includes an objective analysis of the essential job tasks. The report is based on observations of the worksite, other employees performing the duties as well as interviews with the injured/disabled worker and/or supervisor. A JSA includes either a physical demands analysis of the employee's position or a cognitive demands analysis or both. Recommendations from the report can include further rehabilitation recommendations with specific intervention or treatment providers, or workplace accommodations for the employee.
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Physical Demands Analysis (PDA)
A PDA is an objective analysis of the essential job duties and physical demands of a job. Objective measurements of weights and forces required to perform the essential duties are taken. The report is completed based on these measurements and observations of the worksite, employees performing the duties and/or interviewing an employee and/or supervisor. A PDA can be useful:
• For return to work planning and job accommodation.
• If the employee is being sent for an Independent Medical Examination (IME).
• In supporting someone cannot return to work.
• To be used in comparison with an employee's physical abilities measured through a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE).
| Cognitive Demands Analysis (CDA)
A CDA is an objective analysis of the essential job duties and cognitive demands of a job. It is based on observations of the worksite, employees performing the duties and/or interviewing an employee and/or supervisor. A CDA can be useful:
• For return to work planning and job accommodation.
• If the employee is being sent for an IME with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• In supporting someone cannot return to work.
• When investigating diagnoses such as depression, PTSD, chronic pain, TBI, stress, or mental health issues.
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Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA)
Sometimes employees are not able to return to their original occupation after injury or disability. A TSA assessment can help identify potential occupations based on the employee’s training, vocational experience and education. The analysis is based on the Canadian National Occupational Classification of Occupations (NOC) and is, therefore, non-biased and helps identify potentially appropriate occupations. All TSA assessments are conducted by a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) who has been trained by a Rehabilitation Specialist with extensive experience critiquing TSA reports for legal purposes. Any identified occupations have been manually selected by the OT specifically for the employee.
Employability Assessment
For employees with a limited vocational history, an employability assessment can be used to identify appropriate vocational options which include a transferable skills analysis in addition to identifying occupations suitable to an employee's interests, hobbies, volunteer experience and the employee meeting the minimum requirements for an occupation.
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Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
Harbourside Rehab is pleased to provide Matheson one or two day Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE's). An FCE is an objective measurement of an individuals' current physical abilities and limitations, workday tolerance and overall degree of strenuousness. They are conducted by Mr. Lloyd Richard, Occupational Therapist and Kinesiologist. Mr. Richard offers a portable assessment and can be conducted in an individual's area.
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Case Management/Disability Management Counsulting/Return to Work Planning
Studies have shown that companies who use disability management consulting services are three times more successful in returning employees back to the workplace following injury or illness (Watson Wyatt Work Study). Our goal is the same as yours — to get injured or ill employees healthy and back to the workplace while ensuring they receive the most appropriate and cost-effective treatment methods available.
We meet with the employee’s treatment providers to coordinate treatment plans that help meet our shared goal. Case Management/Disability Management Counsulting helps to enhance your cost management while offering the support and encouragement employees need to increase their potential for recovery and return to work.
When an employee is ready to return to work, we develop a return to work plan which is supported by the employee, employer and the employee's treating Physician. We monitor the employee on a regular basis and maintain contact with the employer during the return to work program to ensure success.
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Workplace Wellness and Attendance Management
We are able to provide group seminars or individual consulting on a variety of human resource and occupational health and safety issues such as:
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
• Workstation set-up
• Time management
• Stress management
• Employee wellness solutions including group fitness activities
• Healthy living education
• Back care education
• Employee sick leave
Attendance Management:
Harbourside Rehab has been working with companies on their attendance management programs. This intervention has included review of medical documentation regarding an employee's missed work time and making recommendations regarding the employee returning to work, counselling employees on an individual basis and/or requesting further medical documentation.
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Occupational Therapy Services
Cognitive Rehabilitation Services including Cognitive Function Screening and Services for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Our therapists offer a variety of services aimed at addressing the cognitive, emotional and behavioural issues often experienced after injuries such traumatic brain injuries or with conditions such as strokes or mental health issues. Our services include:
• Cognitive function screening
• Assessment of care/equipment needs
• Attendant training
• Coordination of ongoing rehabilitation
• Vocational counselling
• Provision of rehabilitation services including memory book training and schedule planning.
Dementia Management Including Caregiver Education
Our consultants work with those caring for clients with dementia to help them build care giving skills and to ensure that the client’s environment is as safe as possible. This process may include identifying problem areas, developing and implementing environmental strategies and management approaches.
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In-Home Functional Assessment
This service includes an in-home assessment of a client’s functional level. The purpose of this assessment is to determine appropriate services and equipment to facilitate recovery or optimize function. Home visits conducted by our licensed occupational therapists always include a detailed assessment of the client's function and safety.
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Mental Health Counselling
Harbourside Rehabilitation Solutions offers mental health counselling to our clients. Our highly skilled team can provide guidance in the areas of stress management strategies, activity scheduling, relaxation and socialization. The services can be delivered one-on-one or in a group setting. The one-on-one service is highly beneficial for increasing the daily function and activity level of clients with a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, stress-related illness and individuals with other mental health disorders. Group settings can be brought to the workplace with a goal of decreasing illness or lost time at work due to mental health issues.
Pain Management
Clients living with ongoing pain often avoid activities due to fear of increasing their pain. Pain Management Counselling is offered by occupational therapists who have experience working with clients with ongoing pain. With the goal of increasing a person’s activity level, this service begins with an initial pain management assessment that includes obtaining an individual’s pain history, the person’s understanding of their pain and screening for other contributing factors such as depression and post traumatic stress disorder. The occupational therapist will then make recommendations for appropriate interventions that may include:
• Further occupational therapy sessions aimed at increasing a person’s functional and activity level as well as educating the individual on different coping strategies.
• Participation in the ten week Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP), which is a structured program designed to increase a person’s activity level.
• A referral to a psychologist if cognitive issues need to be addressed in greater depth.
• A referral to another health professional, such as a physiotherapist, if further physical rehabilitation is warranted.
Wheelchair/Seating Consultation
We can provide a comprehensive physical, environmental and psychosocial assessment in order to determine the client's seating needs. We work closely with vendors to obtain the most cost-effective options. If required, we can explore custom seating needs and pressure relief equipment with the client.
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