325 - A New Tool for Assessing Work Capacity for Workers with Multi-System Physical and Cognitive Conditions

Session Description: Cognitive and mental health conditions are a leading cause of long-term work disability in the US. It is critical to provide appropriate job modifications for workers with these conditions as well as with complex multi-system conditions such as long COVID. While physical work capacity forms are a standard tool to support employment, there are no standard work capacity forms to support employment for workers with cognitive, mental health, and multi-system conditions. Lack of clear and appropriate job accommodations puts these workers at risk for work disability. This interactive session teaches participants to use a new validated combined physical and cognitive work capabilities form designed by a multi-disciplinary expert team to document safe job modifications for workers with diverse health conditions. Documenting cognitive and physical work capabilities has the potential to improve work outcomes, increase employee retention and productivity, reduce long-term work disability costs, and improve social determinants of health for individuals with work-limiting cognitive and multi-system conditions.

Educational Gaps: There are currently no work capability forms to support return-to-work for individuals with cognitive and multi-system conditions, and clinicians have difficulty documentation job modifications for these patients. This session will close this gap through an interactive and practical session on the use of a new validated combined cognitive and physical work capacity form through case-based learning.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: No

Has this session previously been presented?: No

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: Cognitive, mental health, and multi-system health conditions are a major contributor to lost work productivity and poor work outcomes. Occupational medicine professionals play a critical role in helping these patient return to work. Increasing awareness and providing training on the use of this easy to use, validated combined cognitive and physical work capabilities form will enhance occupational medicine clinical practice and positively contribute to the health of the global workforce.