WAC 296-19A-070   What information must an assessment report include?  (1) The assessment report must include information and evaluation of the worker's:

     (a) Age;

     (b) Education, including information about education level, courses or transcripts, licenses, and certifications or registrations that the worker may have obtained in the past;

     (c) Complete work history, addressing any gaps in employment;

     (d) Transferable skills and experience, whether obtained from prior employment, prior courses and training, prior vocational rehabilitation services or plans, or nonwork related activities such as hobbies and/or volunteer experience;

     (e) Physical and mental conditions proximately caused by the worker's injury or occupational disease, and the effect of those conditions on the worker's ability to work and/or benefit from vocational services;

     (f) Preexisting physical and mental conditions and the effect of those conditions on the worker's ability to work and/or benefit from vocational services;

     (g) Postinjury physical and mental conditions and the effect of those nonrelated conditions on the worker's ability to work and/or benefit from vocational services;

     (h) Wage and employment pattern at the time of injury;

     (i) Barriers to employment, including whether the barriers can be removed and/or what is needed to address the barriers; and

     (j) Labor market information as defined in WAC 296-19A-140.

     (2) If the vocational rehabilitation provider cannot obtain one or more of the above categories of information, the provider must document in the report all efforts made to obtain the information and why the information could not be obtained.

     (3) The report must address whether the worker can return to work in any capacity with the employer of injury or if the worker is employable at a new job with transferable skills.

     (4) The assessment report must also include one of the following recommendations:

     (a) Able to work: The worker is employable at gainful employment. The report must include:

     (i) Whether the worker is employable with the employer of injury or current employer, or if not, a list of job possibilities for which the worker is qualified;

     (ii) A medically approved job analysis for the job or jobs at which the worker is able to work. When this is not obtainable, medically approved physical capacities information regarding the worker's ability to perform the job may be used; and

     (iii) Labor market information as defined in WAC 296-19A-140 supporting the vocational rehabilitation provider's recommendation. Labor market information is not necessary when the worker is medically released to work for their job of injury at their previous work pattern;

     (b) Further services appropriate: Vocational rehabilitation services are necessary and likely to enable the worker to become employable at gainful employment. The report must include:

     (i) The specific return to work possibilities investigated and the reasons why they were ruled out which may include labor market information as defined in WAC 296-19A-140;

     (ii) An analysis explaining how vocational rehabilitation plan development services are likely to enable the worker to become employable at gainful employment. The analysis may include but is not limited to:

     (A) Vocational evaluation that addresses the worker's ability to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services;

     (B) Information regarding the worker's medical and/or psychological condition(s);

     (C) Labor market survey that was conducted as defined in WAC 296-19A-140;

     (D) A discussion of the worker's participation in vocational activities to date; and

     (E) Any other relevant information.

     (c) Further services not appropriate: The worker is not likely to benefit from vocational services. The report must include:

     (i) An analysis explaining why vocational rehabilitation services are not appropriate;

     (ii) Barriers identified that will make it unlikely the worker will benefit from vocational rehabilitation services, consistent with the requirements in WAC 296-19A-010(1);

     (iii) Medical, psychological or other vocationally relevant information; and

     (iv) Labor market information as defined in WAC 296-19A-140 and other information, as necessary, supporting the vocational rehabilitation provider's recommendations.

     (d) Return to work: The worker has returned to work. The report must specify and/or document attempts to obtain the following information:

     (i) A description of the job the worker returned to;

     (ii) The name of the employer;

     (iii) The date that the worker returned to work; and

     (iv) The worker's monthly wages.

     (5) When the worker has returned to work to the job of injury or is medically released without restrictions, the vocational rehabilitation provider should complete the closing report. No other work should be performed without the prior authorization of the referral source.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030, 51.32.095, 51.32.099 and 51.32.0991 (2007 c 72). 08-06-058, § 296-19A-070, filed 2/29/08, effective 3/31/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030, 51.32.095, 51.36.100, 51.36.110. 03-11-009, § 296-19A-070, filed 5/12/03, effective 2/1/04; 00-18-078, § 296-19A-070, filed 9/1/00, effective 6/1/01.]