The following testimonial was provided by:
Dean Coulter , PT
Cleveland, TN
Hospital-Based Inpatient and Outpatient, On-Site Clinics, Consulting

1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE KEY SYSTEM?
Well, it was a long time ago, but as I remember, we had looked at many of the Functional Capacity Evaluation systems on the market in the early 1990's. I was familiar with some of the other systems, but was frustrated because there was no consistency between facilities or even therapists within individual facilities. To a therapist just getting involved in Occupational Medicine, the most attractive part of the KEY Method was that there were specific protocols and procedures that did not vary and could be easily explained and defended.
2. WHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING THE KEY SYSTEM?
I use KEY because it continues to fill the needs of our business and the needs of our customers. The outcomes are consistent and dependable, allowing us to speak with confidence to physicians and industry regarding the recommendations that are based upon the assessment results.
3. HAVE YOU EVER USED ANY OTHER FCA SYSTEMS?
I have worked at facilities that have used components of other Functional Capacity Evaluation Systems. Again, my experience was that they were changed (mutated) for a variety of reasons and so became difficult to explain the results. I have also worked in facilities where a custom Functional Capacity Assessment was developed for a specific job or industry.
4. WHAT TYPE OF ASSESSMENTS ARE YOU PROVIDING?
We are presently providing KEY Method; WBA, UE, SPA and JPA. We have at times, added custom activities to the assessments to address specific tasks or needs of jobs or professions.
5. HAS YOUR PRACTICE EXPANDED WITH THE KEY SYSTEM?
It is a good tool to introduce a clinic to industrial customers. By using the KEY Method in our facility, we have had opportunities to assist area industry with difficult issues such as return to work or employee placement decisions. This has opened the door for us to help them in other areas such as ergonomics, injury prevention and onsite physical therapy clinics.
6. IS INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE GROWING IN YOUR AREA? IN WHAT WAY?
Occupational Medicine is definitely growing. Employers are more and more aware of the obvious and hidden costs and the need to manage injuries and illnesses aggressively. Many local industries also have realized the need to manage non-work related musculoskeletal conditions. Whether it is work related or not, it still costs the employee and the company. Education, ergonomics and various injury prevention methods are becoming common in our region.
7. WAS IT EASY OR DIFFICULT TO ADD FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS TO YOUR PRACTICE?
After the initial cost, the installation of the KEY Method was easy. After going through the training and then using the system, I quickly realized that the cost was a wise investment. Seeing the return on investment for years, the initial investment does not seem such an obstacle.
8. WHY DO YOU THINK FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS ARE A GOOD FIT TO YOUR PRACTICE?
It allows the facility to compete more effectively with other providers by providing a more full scope of services and gives the therapists another tool to use when answering the questions of physicians and employers. The KEY Method training also forces the therapist to think about the ability of his/her patient to perform functional daily tasks. Too often, therapists get caught up in evaluation of pain, range of motion, manual muscle testing, sensory testing and joint mobility. These are all good things, but if not used to build into an assessment of function, the patient may not be more independent after therapy than before. Doing Functional Capacity Assessments on a regular basis reminds me to constantly think about how my professional services help or improve the functional independence of my patients, whether an occupational injury or not.
9. WHAT IS YOUR WORK SETTING?
An inpatient and outpatient, hospital based practice. It's a 200 bed hospital that receives referrals from physicians in our community and from larger cities in the region. There is a very diverse industry base in our region.
10. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND.
In 1990, graduated from Andrews University in Michigan with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy. After graduating, I practiced in Tennessee in an outpatient Work Hardening/Conditioning for 4 ½ years. Then we moved to Maine where I had the opportunity to work onsite at LL Bean for a year. Returning to Georgia and Tennessee, my practice has focused on outpatient rehabilitation but has grown in the area of onsite physical therapy clinics, consulting and educational services.
11. IN GENERAL, TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS BEFORE AND AFTER ADDING KEY FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS.
Difficult to say, because I received my training in the KEY Method only 6 months after graduating. The knowledge I gained from the training and using the system is an integral part of who I am as a physical therapist. I believe that most therapists would benefit from the training, forcing us to think about how our services increase the independence of our patients and allow them to return to a higher level of function.

1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE KEY SYSTEM?
We chose the KEY system for a number of reasons. The first of which was the reputation KEY has in the industry as an objective, legally defensible system that provides users with results they can depend on. Secondly, the people at the organization reflect KEY's corporate culture as one that fosters a true sense of trust and partnership between the KEY staff and our clinicians.
2. WHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING THE KEY SYSTEM?
We are currently using the KEY system for all the same reasons we chose it. The system is objective, logical, and effective - the reporting is sensible and efficient - and KEY has been an active partner in our growth as an organization.
3. HAVE YOU EVER USED ANY OTHER FCA SYSTEMS?
Due to some of the equipment we have at our clinics and some of the clinicians we have hired as we have grown, we have the capability of doing other systems right now. We have done our "due diligence" and researched these technologies, but we have never found a system our clinicians or our referral doctors like as much as KEY.
4. WHAT TYPE OF ASSESSMENTS ARE YOU PROVIDING?
We are providing KEY Functional Capacity Assessments.
5. HAS YOUR PRACTICE EXPANDED WITH THE KEY SYSTEM?
KEY has been a great company to partner with as a foundation of the services we provide. Because an objective, legally defensible Functional Capacity Assessment is so important in this industry, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to advertise our company as a superior Physical Therapy company with an inferior Functional Capacity Assessment technology.
6. IS INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE GROWING IN YOUR AREA? IN WHAT WAY?
The industrial medicine industry is shrinking due to more wellness initiatives and better hiring strategies. However, this is actually good for providers who provide a higher level of service (and better Functional Capacity Assessments) as employers are more discerning and concerned with outcomes. For the Physical Therapists and Assessment providers in this area providing higher levels of service - our business is growing.
7. WAS IT EASY OR DIFFICULT TO ADD FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS TO YOUR PRACTICE?
Very easy. For those who truly understand the system and how workers' compensation care is processed, a valid and dependable Functional Capacity Assessment system is essential.
8. WHY DO YOU THINK FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS ARE A GOOD FIT TO YOUR PRACTICE?
By providing KEY Evaluations, we are further supporting the image of high quality, high dependability, and superior service.
9. WHAT IS YOUR WORK SETTING?
We are a clinic receiving referrals from several doctors and several companies/industry.
10. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND.
I have a JD/MBA. I started my first clinic in 2003 and have added 4 locations since then. I have just over 30 employees.
11. IN GENERAL, TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS BEFORE AND AFTER ADDING KEY FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS.
We didn't/wouldn't have started the company without having our partnership with KEY. We knew it was that important.