ARC Physical Therapy+ is proud to be the official supplier of post-offer employment testing (POET) for Perishable Distributors of Iowa (PDI), a subsidiary of Hy-Vee that provides quality perishable products to customers across the state. Since 2019, ARC Physical Therapy+ has helped PDI take steps to significantly reduce its workers’ compensation claims.
“Over the years, back strains have been our number one injury due to the repetitive lifting in our warehouse positions. We are definitely trending in the right direction this year, and I think the POET has helped us get there,” said Leigh Walters, senior vice president of human resources at PDI.
Prior to implementing ARC’s POET, PDI used a Physical Capacity Profile® (PCP) from another provider for its post-offer exams. Under this approach, many of PDI’s employees, especially new hires, were getting injured on the job.
Aaron Christiansen
, PT, Iowa Regional Director at ARC Physical Therapy+, approached PDI about switching to the POET. He provided Leigh with research on other employer partners who had seen success from the program.
“In 2018, our workers’ compensation claims were up 36% with back strains, particularly from new employees, making up a large part of this expense. We were using another vendor for post-offer testing and were not seeing the result we needed. I decided to do a pilot program with ARC and try the POET. Since that time, we have seen a steady decline in strains overall,” Leigh said.
The POET collects baseline physical measurements for comparative analysis in the event a work-related injury or trauma occurs, and helps identify health risks associated with pre-existing cardiovascular, degenerative or cumulative trauma disorders.
The program includes a:
- Comprehensive Medical Questionnaire (GINA compliant)
- Musculoskeletal Assessment
- Dynamic Lift Test
- Essential Functional Test (Job-specific simulation)
“Unlike other forms of testing, which primarily measure strength, our post-offer employment test is designed to simulate the physical demands of a job to ensure workers can safely perform their duties before they start,” Aaron said. “The testing provides a ‘capable’ or ‘not capable’ result with legally defensible data for potential workers’ compensation claims.”
When injuries do occur, the therapists at ARC Physical Therapy+ are well equipped to help rehab injured workers back to their unique job demands. To learn more about our POET or workers’ compensation services, contact info@arcpt.com or 844-755-4272.
About PDI
Perishable Distributors of Iowa, LTD was established in 1982 with the goal to provide a distribution system that would supply quality perishable products to Iowa customers in a cost-efficient and timely manner. Today PDI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hy-Vee Inc., a supermarket chain with sales of more than $11.5 billion and more than 283 retail stores in eight Midwestern states. With 2020 Fiscal Year sales reaching over $1.5 billion dollars and a product list of more than 7,600 fresh and frozen items, PDI is one of the largest food distribution companies in the Midwest.
About ARC Physical Therapy+
ARC Physical Therapy+ is the only physical and occupational therapy company to combine a continuum of care to create a healthy workforce. ARC Physical Therapy+ is home to more than 90 professionals, 26 outpatient clinics, several additional onsite clinics, and an array of unique employer health solutions positioned throughout the Midwest including the Kansas City metro area, Northwest Missouri; Springfield, Missouri; Topeka and Wichita, Kansas; and the Des Moines metro area in Iowa. For more information visit www.arcpt.com.
