The role of the occupational therapist-work evaluator.

This paper presents the role of the occupational therapist as that of a work evaluator who provides services to injured workers. Therapists, by virtue of their professional knowledge, have a frame of reference for work evaluation and understand the factors that interrupt the work process. In work evaluation, the therapist assists the injured worker to develop work readiness and the physical capacities necessary for working productively. This development takes place in a therapeutic milieu where the "worker" role is regained. The role of the occupational therapist-work evaluator includes work-oriented treatment in the acute care setting, job analysis, work tolerance screening, work capacity evaluation, work hardening, and job market reentry management in the work evaluation and community settings.