Medical Practitioner jobs UK - Alexander James Healthcare on Disability Assessment careers

 What is Disability Assessment?

Alexander James Healthcare has been recruiting Doctors and GPs in the area of Disability Assessment for a number of years for both full time and part time careers.  Alexander James Healthcare believes that Disability Assessment is becoming a key area of Medicine being stable career for Doctors and GPs in the UK healthcare community.

Our clients specialises in Disability Assessment and has over 200 Clinical nationwide and employee over 2000 qualified Medical and Healthcare professionals which include, Doctors jobs UK, GP jobs UK.

To be considered to work as a Medical Practitioner in Disability Assessment a Doctor or GP must have :

At least  3 year postgraduate experience in either a European country or 3 years full registration with the GMC.

Experience in one or more of the following Doctors specialities:

• A&E jobs UK
• Psychiatry jobs UK
• Musculoskeletal medicine UK
• Rehabilitation jobs UK
• General Practice jobs UK
• Family Medicine jobs UK

 A Doctor placed by Alexander James Healthcare into a Medical Practitioner job in Nottingham  helps us explain what Disability Assessment is:

"Doctors and GPs can all work in disability assessment as Medical Practitioner in the UK, Disability assessment Medical Practitioners will advise based on the level of physical and mental ability in people in everyday life, In relation to either benefit claims or to the work environment.

Core values of occupational health are evident in disability assessment clinical training but with some important differences. Disability assessment medicine is different to clinical medicine.

The teaching of Doctors and GPs in their approach to a clinical condition follows this progression of actions in Disability Assessment:

• History
• Examination
• Investigations
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Follow-up.

The focus in clinical medicine is to indentify enough information to reach a correct diagnosis for treatment. However, the primary focus in disability assessment is for Medical Practitioners is different. As Medical Practitioners we assess disability by making use of the five steps of disability analysis:

1. Functional history
2. Observations
3. Focused examination
4. Logical reasoning of the available evidence
5. Justification of opinions.

The objective for the disability analyst is not to diagnose and provide a treatment, but to assess the functional effects of a person's condition with respect to their day-to-day living. 

In disability analysis, history-taking focuses on day-to-day living, rather than on a detailed clinical history, although basic clinical information is still required. The precise diagnosis, while useful, is not critical. In terms of the impact on daily life, it is the functional impact of the condition which is more important.

We obtain a functional history based on the individual's day-to-day activities and any difficulties or restrictions that they have with those activities. That history focuses on an in-depth account of the person's normal everyday tasks including household chores, social activities and holidays. We call this the 'typical day' approach.

This typical day approach is a very useful way of obtaining information about the individual's regular daily activities and habits.

It gets away from the usual focus within a clinical setting, when we find out about the symptoms and signs related to a particular illness. Although we use the term 'typical day', we do not limit the history to a single day, but also refer to less frequent activities, occurring weekly, monthly or sometimes even annually.

When we assess people, we make sure that we use good listening techniques. We remember that appropriate eye contact and suitable body language leave a lasting impression we use clear, familiar and understandable language and we show an interest in the individual. We attempt to allow them to express their needs as fully as possible and we explain what we are doing throughout the assessment.

During the assessment, we summarise, review and clarify we note the manner in which something is said, as well as what was actually said. We use a mainly open questioning style, using closed questions to clarify fact, or to redirect the interview after a possible diversion. We attempt also to use positive body language throughout the assessment.

We place an emphasis on observed behaviour. The observation process starts as soon as we meet the individual. For example, information could be gathered on their hearing ability (when their name is called at the reception area or whether or not they hear the doorbell at a home visit).

Further observation could provide evidence about other areas such as lower limb function (when rising from a chair and walking, for example), upper limb function (when carrying a bag or opening doors), and other areas of functional ability.

Different focus

Similarly, the examination in disability analysis has a different focus from that used in traditional clinical medicine. Our examination is used to assess the degree of function, rather than to derive the diagnosis of the condition present (although it is important to take the diagnosis into account).

We apply familiar examination techniques, but we use those techniques in a different way to gain information regarding the functional ability. Our physical exam­ination is focused on a functional area (for example the lower limbs, rather than just a single joint of one leg).

Disability analysts do not have a therapeutic role in assessments and we do not provide ongoing care to the individual.

Our responsibility is to provide an impartial report. In most instances this will be used in relation to a claim to benefit or insurance benefits. Any decision on entitlement is taken by a decision maker who may well be non-medical. They make their decision about entitlement in accordancewith benefit legislation or the terms of the particular insurance scheme. We provide them with appropriate advice, which is given on the balance of probability.

We are able to give this reasoned advice by using our knowledge of the history and effects of the conditions present to predict the likely effects on the individual's function. We use logical reasoning to assess all the evidence available to us (functional history, observations, examination and any other information such as a report from the GP), and then give a justified opinion to the decision maker.

Let us consider an example: A 45-year-old man has a 12-month history of back pain and sciatica found to caused by a prolapsed inter-vertebral disc. He has been called for an examination by  disability analyst. The disability analyst would use the five steps while carrying out the assessment.

• History of back pain, treatments, employment. The effects on daily living.
• Observation of movements seen informally and formally.
• Examination of spine, lower limbs.
• Logical reasoning to assess all the available evidence.
• Justified opinion based on the evidence and giving explanations.

Some are rendered housebound by arthritis of their hips, while others appear to continue their normal activities. Some of the differences can be identified in relation to personality and motivation, but the local environment, personal and emotional factors are all important in the response to any impairment".

Dr David Wright GP

Medical Practitioner Newcastle

 

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