Return to Work

Programs & Services

The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP)

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people become disabled due to injury or illness. Whether addressed in relation to personal, social or health care costs, chronic disability remains one of the most expensive health problems facing modern society. PGAP was designed to prevent or reduce the severity of disability that can arise following injury or illness.

The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) is an Evidence-Based Treatment Program for Reducing Disability Associated with Pain, Depression, Cancer and other Chronic Health Conditions.

PGAP is the first disability prevention program specifically designed to target psychosocial risk factors for disability. Psychosocial factors were chosen as targets of the intervention on the basis of emerging research supporting their relevance to return- to-work outcomes and their amenability to change through intervention. PGAP is a life-role re-integration Program that has been tailored to meet the rehabilitation needs of individuals who are struggling to overcome the challenges associated with a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions. PGAP is a standardized community-based intervention delivered by rehabilitation professionals such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, kinesiologists, nurses, rehabilitation counsellors and psychologists. PGAP was designed to complement existing clinical services for the treatment of debilitating health and mental health conditions.

KHS has been providing PGAP intervention since 2007. KHS currently has 6 PGAP clinicians who have completed the 3rd Edition Training. We also have 2 PGAP clinicians who are able to provide the telephonic version of the PGAP intervention (PGAP-Tel).

Occupational Rehabilitation Program (up to 6 hours per day)

A comprehensive, individualized interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach. The goal is to maximize the participant’s functional abilities with a focus on return to work if medically appropriate. Treatment goals are discussed in detail with the fee payer prior to initiating treatment to ensure optimal results specific to each individual case.

Our treatment team includes: Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Kinesiologist, Psychologist, and Physician. Treatment includes: individualized exercise rehabilitation programming, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, work simulation activities, case coordination, and psycho-education.

Job Demands Assessment

A Job Demands Assessment (JDA) is a detailed quantitative on-site evaluation outlining critical job demands. The JDA is often useful in conjunction with an Occupational Rehabilitation Program, Return to Work planning, and Functional Capacity Evaluations to ensure the assessment and preparation for returning to the work-setting match the job demands.

Ergonomic Assessment

Ergonomic Assessment entails evaluation of the individual and their work-station/work site with specific recommendations.

Return to work coordination

Clinically relevant predictors of RTW are related to workplace processes, such as clear RTW goals, proactive response by the employer, workplace accommodations, elimination of risk factors from the workplace, modified work, and ergonomic strategies.

Return to work coordination includes the development and implementation of appropriate rehabilitation and the transition back to work.

• Work Site Visit
• Return to work planning
• Return work implementation and monitoring
• Job Coaching

Pre-Employment Functional Evaluations

Kootenay Health Services completes comprehensive pre-employment functional evaluations for employers as part of their new employee hiring process. Assessments are designed to evaluate the individual with the physical demands of the job(s) in mind.

As well, we have qualified clinicians who complete pre-employment assessments for BC Ambulance paramedic candidates.