FCE Communication & Documentation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which element must appear in the 'Referral Information' section of a standard FCE report?
- Client's insurance premium details
- The specific questions the referral source wants answered (Correct answer)
- Evaluator's personal opinions about disability status
- A complete list of all standardized tests available
Correct answer: The specific questions the referral source wants answered
The referral information section must clearly state the questions posed by the referral source so the report can directly address them.
Question 2: When an FCE evaluator observes inconsistency between a client's reported limitation and observed performance, the documentation should:
- Omit the observed performance to avoid conflict
- Record both the report and observation with objective descriptors (Correct answer)
- Diagnose the client as malingering
- Immediately terminate the evaluation
Correct answer: Record both the report and observation with objective descriptors
Both reported limitations and observed performance must be documented objectively, allowing the reader to draw conclusions without the evaluator labeling intent.
Question 3: The DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles) physical demand levels used in FCE reports classify work as Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and:
- Strenuous
- Very Heavy (Correct answer)
- Extreme
- Maximum
Correct answer: Very Heavy
The five DOT physical demand levels are Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy, and FCE reports often use these classifications.
Question 4: A signed consent form prior to FCE testing should document that the client was informed of:
- The evaluator's fee schedule only
- The purpose, procedures, risks, and right to withdraw (Correct answer)
- The expected outcome of the evaluation
- The referring physician's diagnosis
Correct answer: The purpose, procedures, risks, and right to withdraw
Informed consent requires disclosure of the evaluation's purpose, what procedures will occur, potential risks, and the client's right to stop at any time.
Question 5: When writing the 'Recommendations' section of an FCE report, the evaluator should base statements on:
- The client's desired return-to-work date
- Objective test findings and functional performance data (Correct answer)
- Insurance company guidelines for maximum benefits
- The evaluator's clinical intuition alone
Correct answer: Objective test findings and functional performance data
Recommendations must be grounded in objective, measurable FCE data to ensure they are defensible and evidence-based.
Question 6: Which statement best describes the role of photographs or videos in FCE documentation?
- They replace written documentation entirely
- They serve as supplemental objective evidence of client performance (Correct answer)
- They are required by law for all FCE reports
- They are used solely for marketing purposes
Correct answer: They serve as supplemental objective evidence of client performance
Photographs or videos can supplement written findings by providing visual evidence of postures, movement quality, or task performance observed during testing.
Question 7: If an FCE report will be used in litigation, the evaluator's documentation should be:
- Informal and conversational to seem approachable
- Precise, objective, and free of speculative language (Correct answer)
- Focused on supporting the client's legal position
- Abbreviated to reduce reading time for attorneys
Correct answer: Precise, objective, and free of speculative language
Medicolegal FCE reports require precise, objective, and defensible language because they may be scrutinized by opposing counsel and judges.
FCE Communication & Documentation 3
Which element must appear in the 'Referral Information' section of a standard FCE report?