Why Choose A Full Body Physiotherapy Assessment?

Choosing a full body physiotherapist medical instead of a basic health assessment as part of a company’s pre-screening and hiring process has many benefits especially in labor intensive or safety sensitive jobs.

Identifying pre-existing injuries will allow your company to:

• Reduce injuries in the workplace
• Increase employee retention
• Reduce WHSCC claims and costs.

No longer are push-ups, sit-ups and lifting empty boxes sufficient to determine a workers fitness level.

Pre-employment testing is an effective way to ensure that you are hiring the right staff to fill the positions in your company.  By pre-testing job applicants, a lot of the “guess work” associated with a new hire is removed.

Occupational testing is able to determine situations like whether an applicant has a pre-existing injury that could negatively affect job performance or whether they have a history of drug use or abuse through an express urine drug test. All of this information and more can be identified through our full body physiotherapist medical assessments. Please feel free to contact us for a consultation to find out which type of employment testing would benefit your company.

Increase Employee Morale With Occupational Testing

Lower your Workers Compensation costs and increase employee retention. Companies often notice an improvement to their employee retention within 90 days of implementing our occupational testing program. We offer a one stop shop for all of your employment testing needs. Our clinic offer the services listed below. For more information about any of our services or for a custom price quote, please call (709)-753-3372 or email us.

What To Expect From TSL Physio Medical Testing

When you arrive, you will first receive testing from an occupational health technician who will take your height, weight, blood pressure, grip strength and administer a drug, alcohol, audiometric, spirometry and/or carpal tunnel (nerve conduction) test if requested by the company you are applying to.

You will then undergo a full body musculoskeletal examination by a licensed physiotherapist who will assess the stability, strength, range of motion and integrity of your muscles, joints, ligaments and bones.

If the physiotherapist identifies any medical reason that will prevent you from safely completing the physical job demands of the position you are applying for, they will refer you for further testing (x-ray, MRI, physical therapy, physician assessment, etc.) and you will not be able to continue with the physical testing.

Recommendations on what NOT to do:

• Do Not wear sandals or other open toed shoes because you will not be allowed to start the test.
• Do Not drive/commute for more than three hours the same day of your test.
• Do Not eat fast food or other foods with a high grease content and low nutritional value immediately prior to your test.
• Do Not consume alcohol the night prior to your test.

Critical Strength & Mobility Testing

The physical testing is completed to ensure that you have the necessary strength, conditioning and mobility to safely work at the job you are applying for.

The duration of the physical is approximately 30 minutes.  During that time you will be required to demonstrate proper lifting techniques and repeatedly carry weights ranging from 15-100lbs (depending on job position) in a variety of different ways (single hand carry, overhead lift, front carry . . . ) over different distances and with various sets/reps.

Therapeutic Services does not administer the industry standard sit-up and push-up tests!  We test based on the different types of lifts and carries found on the job site with the actual weights used at a specific job.

Individuals being tested are typically fatigued by the end of the test, require water/towels throughout the testing and feel a sense of accomplishment once successfully completing both the medical and physical tests.

Individuals who do not successfully complete the physical lifting component will receive an explanation as to why they were not successful and ways to improve their strength, conditioning, lifting techniques and coordination to ensure success with future testing.

Preparing for a Drug and Alcohol Test With TSL Physio

Recommendations on what to do:

• Bring your government issued photo ID. (Drivers License, Passport, Military ID, etc.)
• Abstain from using illegal drugs.
• Do not consume alcohol for 24 hours prior to an alcohol test.
• If you are taking a prescription medication, know the name of the medication you are taking.  You may also bring a list of medications that you may be taking to note on your paperwork.

Recommendations on what NOT to do:

• Do Not drink excessive amounts of water prior to a drug test. Your typical level of water consumption is recommended. Drinking excessive amounts of water may cause your urine to be too dilute to test.
• Do Not use alcohol based mouthwash within 15 minutes of your scheduled alcohol test.
• Do Not shave your head if you are scheduled for a hair drug test. Typically 1.5″ of hair is needed to properly administer the test.

What to expect when you check-in:

1. When you come in for your drug and/or alcohol appointment, you will first be required to present some form of government issued photo ID.

2. If you are coming in for a private appointment, payment must be made prior to testing.  The only acceptable form of payment on-site is cash.  Debit/Credit Card/Cheque will not be accepted.

3. Once your ID is verified, you will receive paperwork to fill out.  This paperwork includes an authorization allowing Therapeutic Services to perform the test and provide the results to your employer/potential employer.  If you are coming in for a private test, the form will have a spot where you can indicate where you would like the results to be sent.  You will also have a short form to fill out indicating your contact information and any prescription or over the counter drugs that you are currently using.

4. Once your paperwork is complete, you will not be allowed to leave the testing facility until testing is complete.  If you choose to leave the testing facility, it will be indicated as a refusal to test and considered a fail.

Testing Expectations:

Urine Drug Testing

1. You will be required to provide a sample of urine within 3 minutes of entering a private, single toilet bathroom.  If you flush the toilet after providing the sample, it will be considered invalid.

2. Once you have provided a sample, the tester will ensure it meets our collection criteria.  If the sample is acceptable one of two things may happen.  If you are booked in for an express urine test, the tester will then test the urine sample for drugs.  If you are booked in for a lab based urine test, the tester will split the sample in front of you, fill out a chain of custody, and package the sample to go to the laboratory. Lab results typically take 2-5 business days.

3. If your sample does not meet our collection criteria, you will be instructed to return to the waiting room until you can provide an acceptable sample. You will be given up to three hours to provide a valid sample.

4. If your lab based drug screen is positive or if your express drug screen is confirmed positive at the lab you will be contacted by a Medical Review Officer (MRO).  The MRO will contact you with the information you put down on your intake form. Ensure that this information is correct. It is the job of the MRO to determine whether the positive drug screen was the due to legitimate prescription drug use or if it is due to illegal drug use or prescription drug mis-use.

Oral Fluid Drug Testing

1. You must spit out any gum or tobacco that you have in your mouth so that it does not affect the quality of testing.

2. You will then be required to provide a sample of your saliva into an oral fluid collection device.

3. If you are booked in for an express oral fluid test, the tester will wait for the given amount of time specific to the collection device and then read the device to determine if drugs are present in your sample. If you are booked in for a lab based oral fluid test, the tester will fill out a chain of custody, and package the sample to go to the laboratory. Lab results typically take 2-5 business days.

4. If your lab based drug screen is positive or if your express drug screen is confirmed positive at the lab you will be contacted by a Medical Review Officer (MRO).  The MRO will contact you with the information you put down on your intake form. Ensure that this information is correct. It is the job of the MRO to determine whether the positive drug screen was the due to legitimate prescription drug use or if it is due to illegal drug use or prescription drug mis-use.

Hair Drug Testing

1.If you do not have sufficient head hair (apx. 1.5″) to administer the test, the tester will take a sample of your body hair.  This hair may be taken from areas such as your armpit or leg.

2. Express testing is not available for hair samples, only lab based testing is available. The tester will fill out a chain of custody and package the sample to go to the laboratory. Lab results typically take 5-10 business days.

3. The tester will take a sample of hair, by cutting your hair with scissors as close to the root as possible, typically from the crown of the head (Hair will not be pulled out by the root). 90-120 hairs are needed for a successful test. The cut hair should not be noticeable after the test is complete.

4. If you fail your lab based drug screen, you will be contacted by a Medical Review Officer (MRO). The MRO will contact you with the information you put down on your intake form.  Ensure that this information is correct. It is the job of the MRO to determine whether the positive drug screen was the due to legitimate prescription drug use or if it is due to illegal drug use or prescription drug mis-use.

Alcohol Testing 

1. You must spit out any gum or tobacco that you have in your mouth so that it does not affect the quality of testing.

2. The tester will administer one of two types of tests, either a saliva test, or a breath alcohol test.

3. If you are scheduled for a breath alcohol test, you will be instructed by the tester to “empty your lungs” into the disposable tube attached to the breath alcohol testing unit. A fresh tube is used for every person, the tubes are not sterilized and re-used. After you have finished breathing into the unit, it will beep, and the tester will be able to see a digital reading of the BAC level.

4. If you are scheduled for a saliva alcohol test, you will be instructed by the tester to insert a saliva kit into your mouth for 60 seconds. Once enough saliva is collected, the tester will be able to read the kit and determine the BAC level.

5. If the results of your alcohol test are above the acceptable level (dependant upon your company) you will receive a confirmation test 15 minutes after the original test was administered. If the BAC is still above the acceptable level, your result will be considered a fail.