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)
• Vocational Counselling
• Case Management/Disability Management Counsulting including return to work rehabilitation services
• File Reviews
• 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
• Discharge Planning
• Prevocational Activity Programs
• Mental Health Counselling
• Pain Management
To request information, please send us an e-mail or contact us by telephone
1 (844) 959.0655
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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 Metriks 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 a registered Occupational Therapist.
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Vocational Counselling
Our Consultants assist clients to become more employable by helping the client to identify occupational options and effective job search strategies as well as prepare resumes and cover letters. This is particularly effective when a client no longer has a job in which to return such as from downsizing, or the client is unable to return to their own occupation due to injury or illness.
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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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File Review
Our Consultants have many years experience working with clients with a variety of disabilities, including making recommendations for services to help a client progress with their recovery. We have provided file reviews for insurers and lawyers to make suggestions for further rehabilitation or to comment on an individual's rehabilitation potential.
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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:
Employee sick time is a huge cost to employers and absenteeism is on the rise. We work with private companies to develop and implement attendance management programs. We may work with the employee on a collaborative basis to discuss the issues which are leading to the absenteeism and work with the employee to develop strategies to address these issues. This may involve communication with the employee’s physicians or treatment providers to obtain medical restrictions regarding the employee’s ability to perform their essential job duties. Once these medical restrictions are known, options for workplace accommodations can be discussed with the employer with a goal of keeping the employee at work.
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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES
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PGAP - Progressive Goal Attainment Program
The primary goals of PGAP are to reduce psychosocial barriers to rehabiliation progress, promote re-integration into life-role activities, increase quality of life, and facilitate return-to-work. These goals are achieved through targeted treatment of psychosocial risk factors, structured activity scheduling, graded-activity involvement, goal-setting, problem-solving, and motivational enhancement. PGAP is a standardized ten (10) week intervention program.
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BrainFX 360 Assessment
The BrainFX 360 assessment is a computer-based Occupational Therapy functional cognitive assessment. It was designed to be:
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Sensitive to mild to moderate brain disorder
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Standardized
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Evidence based
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A collection tool for brain health data
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Measure real-life/real-world function
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Able to measure functional outcomes based on an individual's neurofunction.
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Cognitive Rehabilitation/Concussion Management Services including Functional Cognitive Screening and Services for Clients with 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 screening using a functional approach
• Provision of rehabilitation services including memory compensation strategies
• Assessment of care/equipment needs
• Attendant training
• Coordination of ongoing rehabilitation
• Vocational counselling
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Wheelchair/Seating Consultation
Our therapists have extensive experience working with clients with complicated seating needs and assessment for the most appropriate mobility device, including manual and power wheelchairs as well as scooters. Our therapists are knowledgeable about seating and mobility products and keep up to date with current technology. 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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Discharge Planning
All of Harbourside’s occupational therapists completing discharge planning have extensive experience working in a hospital setting and have a thorough understanding of the unique issues involved with a hospital admission. Our consultants work collaboratively with the hospital staff, client and their family to establish post discharge needs including services and equipment. This helps ensure a smooth transition from the hospital to the home. This service may involve an in home functional assessment.
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Prevocational Activity Programs
Often clients who are off work are not engaged in their normal pre-injury/pre-disability activities and they lack structure to their day. This may be related to a variety of conditions such as chronic pain or mental health issues. Our Consultants can provide guidance to clients in the areas of activity scheduling with the goal of gradually improving their daily functioning. Strategies such as goal setting, stress management techniques, time management and relaxation techniques are utilized in a self management approach. The services are delivered on a one-on-one basis in the client's home environment. This is an excellent tool to assist the client to prepare for an eventual return to work.
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Mental Health Counselling
Harbourside Rehabilitation Solutions offers mental health counselling to our clients. Our Consultants 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 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.
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