Industrial & Work Rehabilitation

Practical, job-focused rehab to keep your team safe and working

At Daviess Community Hospital’s CORE Center, we help injured workers return to safe productivity and assist employers in reducing risk, improving ergonomics, and making informed, job-related decisions. Our team delivers work conditioning, functional capacity evaluations (FCEs), ergonomic assessments, job analyses, post-offer testing, and targeted education and injury-prevention programs. Services are available in Washington and Odon, Indiana, and we partner with employers and case managers across Southern Indiana.

CORE really does go to work for you—objective testing, clear reporting, and rehab that matches real job demands.

Who we help

• Employees & injured workers — recover strength, endurance, and tolerance to return safely to work
• Employers & HR — ADA-informed, job-related testing and ergonomic solutions to reduce risk and cost
• Physicians, case managers, and insurers — objective data to guide restrictions, RTW planning, and case resolution

Services

Work Conditioning

A structured, multi-week program that rebuilds strength, endurance, mobility, and task tolerance to match an employee’s essential job functions. Sessions simulate job tasks (e.g., lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, overhead work), incorporate spine/shoulder/hip stabilization training, and include education on safe body mechanics to reduce future risk. Progress is measured and communicated to the referral source.

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

A standardized, objective evaluation of an individual’s physical abilities compared to job demands. An FCE may measure:

• Lifting, carrying, push/pull forces
• Positional tolerances (standing, walking, reaching, kneeling, crouching)
• Hand coordination and grip
• Cardiovascular/endurance indicators
• Consistency of effort and test validity (per accepted protocols)

Use cases: determining safe work restrictions, guiding RTW decisions, establishing baseline abilities after injury, and informing case closure. Reports are clear, defensible, and job-related.

Ergonomic Capacity & Workplace Assessments

On-site or clinic-based ergonomic evaluations that identify risk factors (forceful exertion, repetition, awkward postures, contact stress) and provide practical control strategies:

• Workstation setup (office, manufacturing, lab, field)
• Tool, handle, and reach optimization
• Lift technique, load height, and frequency guidance
• Micro-break and stretch programming
• Written recommendations prioritized by risk and feasibility

Job Analysis

A detailed breakdown of essential functions and physical demands (weights, forces, postures, frequencies, environmental factors). Job analyses inform post-offer testing, FCE comparisons, work conditioning goals, and ADA-aligned decision making.

Post-Offer / Pre-Employment Testing

Job-specific, post-offer testing (based on a current job analysis) to confirm a candidate can safely perform essential functions. Testing is task-based, consistent, and objective, and results are provided to the employer in a clear, functional format.

Education & Injury Prevention

Targeted training that drives culture and compliance:

• Spine control & safe lifting (push/pull, carry, team lifts)
• Body mechanics for common tasks (overhead, floor-to-waist, awkward spaces)
• Office ergonomics and hybrid-work setup
• Warm-up/micro-break programs and fatigue management
• Post-injury self-management strategies to prevent re-injury

Our process

1. Referral & intake — we gather relevant history, job description, and goals
2. Evaluation — baseline testing or job-related assessment (FCE, job analysis, ergonomics)
3. Plan — work conditioning or targeted interventions matched to essential functions
4. Progress & communication — scheduled updates to the employer/referral source
5. Final report — objective findings, restrictions/tolerances, and RTW recommendations

Why employers choose CORE

• Objective, job-related testing with clear, defensible reporting
• Functional rehab that mirrors the work environment
• Ergonomics that work — practical solutions, not long reports that sit on a shelf
• Regional access — clinics in Washington and Odon serving Southern Indiana
• A collaborative team that respects timelines, safety, and cost

Common conditions we address

• Sprains/strains (shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, back, hip, knee, ankle/foot)
• Overuse injuries and cumulative trauma
• Post-surgical or post-immobilization stiffness (per protocol)
• Low-back/neck pain; radicular symptoms when appropriate
• Balance/endurance limitations affecting job performance

Locations & scheduling

CORE Center | 421 E. Van Trees Street, Washington, IN
CORE Center at North Daviess | 800 S. West Street, Odon, IN

Call (812) 254-8889 to schedule a work conditioning program, FCE, or ergonomic evaluation, or to request a quote for employer services. We support employers and workers from Washington, Odon, Jasper, Vincennes, Loogootee, Petersburg, Bloomfield, and neighboring communities across Southern Indiana.

FAQs

What’s the difference between an FCE and post-offer testing?
An FCE measures a worker’s current capabilities after injury and compares them to job demands. Post-offer testing (based on a job analysis) verifies a new hire can safely perform essential functions.

How long is work conditioning?
Most programs run 2–4 days/week for 2–6 weeks, tailored to the job demands and medical guidance. We measure progress and communicate regularly.

Can you evaluate our job sites?
Yes. We provide job analyses and on-site ergonomic assessments with prioritized recommendations and training if requested.

Do you coordinate with physicians and case managers?
Absolutely—timely updates and clear reports keep decisions moving.