DWD 81.09(1)(d)(d) Medical imaging evaluation of upper extremity disorders shall be based on the findings of the history and physical examination and may not be ordered before a health care provider’s clinical evaluation of the patient. Medical imaging may not be performed as a routine procedure and shall comply with the guidelines in s. DWD 81.05. A health care provider shall document the appropriate indications for any medical imaging studies obtained. DWD 81.09(1)(e)(e) Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are only necessary for nerve entrapment disorders and recurrent nerve entrapment after surgery. DWD 81.09(1)(f)(f) A health care provider may not order the use of any of the following diagnostic procedures or tests for diagnosis of upper extremity disorders: DWD 81.09(1)(g)(g) All of the following diagnostic procedures or tests are considered adjuncts to the physical examination and are not necessary separately from the office visit: DWD 81.09(1)(h)(h) A health care provider may not order computerized range of motion or strength measuring tests during the period of initial nonsurgical management but may order these tests during the period of chronic management when used in conjunction with a computerized exercise program, work hardening program, or work conditioning program. During the period of initial nonsurgical management, computerized range of motion or strength testing may be performed but shall be done in conjunction with an office visit with a health care provider’s evaluation or treatment. DWD 81.09(1)(i)(i) A health care provider may order personality or psychosocial evaluations for evaluating patients who continue to have problems despite appropriate initial nonsurgical care. A treating health care provider may perform this evaluation or may refer the patient for consultation with another health care provider in order to obtain a psychological evaluation. These evaluations may be used to assess the patient for a number of psychological conditions that may interfere with recovery from the injury. Since more than one of these psychological conditions may be present in a given case, a health care provider performing the evaluation shall consider all of the following: DWD 81.09(1)(i)2.2. Does the patient exhibit an emotional reaction to the injury, such as depression, fear, or anger, that is interfering with recovery? DWD 81.09(1)(i)3.3. Are there other personality factors or disorders that are interfering with recovery? DWD 81.09(1)(i)6.6. Does the patient have a chronic pain syndrome or psychogenic pain? DWD 81.09(1)(i)7.7. In cases in which surgery is a possible treatment, are psychological factors likely to interfere with the potential benefit of the surgery? DWD 81.09(1)(j)(j) Diagnostic analgesic blocks and injection studies are used to localize the source of pain and to diagnose conditions which fail to respond to appropriate initial nonsurgical management. All of the following guidelines apply to diagnostic analgesic blocks and injection studies: DWD 81.09(1)(j)1.1. Selection of patients, choice of procedure, and localization of the site of injection shall be determined by documented clinical findings indicating possible pathologic conditions and the source of pain symptoms. DWD 81.09(1)(j)2.2. These blocks and injections may also be used as therapeutic modalities and as such are subject to the guidelines of sub. (5). DWD 81.09(1)(k)(k) Functional capacity assessment or evaluation is a comprehensive and objective assessment of a patient’s ability to perform work tasks. The components of a functional capacity assessment or evaluation include neuromusculoskeletal screening, tests of manual material handling, assessment of functional mobility, and measurement of postural tolerance. A functional capacity assessment or evaluation is an individualized testing process and the component tests and measurements are determined by the patient’s condition and the requested information. Functional capacity assessments and evaluations are performed to determine and report a patient’s physical capacities in general or to determine work tolerance for a specific job, task, or work activity. DWD 81.09(1)(k)1.1. Functional capacity assessment or evaluation is not necessary during the first 12 weeks of initial nonsurgical treatment. DWD 81.09(1)(k)2.2. Functional capacity assessment or evaluation is necessary after the first 12 weeks of care in any of the following circumstances: DWD 81.09(1)(k)3.3. A functional capacity evaluation is not necessary to establish baseline performance before treatment or for subsequent assessments to evaluate change during or after treatment. DWD 81.09(1)(k)4.4. Only one completed functional capacity evaluation is necessary per injury. DWD 81.09(1)(L)(L) Consultations with other health care providers may be initiated at any time by a treating health care provider consistent with accepted medical practice. DWD 81.09(2)(2) General treatment guidelines for upper extremity disorders. DWD 81.09(2)(a)(a) All medical care for upper extremity disorders, appropriately assigned to a category of sub. (1) (b) 1. to 6., is determined by the diagnosis and clinical category that the patient has been assigned. General guidelines for treatment modalities are set forth in subs. (3) to (10). Specific treatment guidelines for each clinical category are set forth in subs. (11) to (16) as follows: DWD 81.09(2)(b)(b) A health care provider shall at each visit reassess the appropriateness of the clinical category assigned and reassign the patient if warranted by new clinical information including symptoms, signs, results of diagnostic testing and opinions, and information obtained from consultations with other health care providers. When the clinical category is changed the treatment plan shall be appropriately modified to reflect the new clinical category. The health care provider shall record any clinical category and treatment plan changes in the medical record. A change of clinical category may not in itself allow a health care provider to continue a therapy or treatment modality past the maximum duration specified in subs. (3) to (10) or to repeat a therapy or treatment previously provided for the same injury, unless the treatment or therapy is subsequently delivered to a different part of the body. DWD 81.09(2)(c)(c) When treating more than one clinical category or body part for which the same treatment modality is appropriate, then the treatment modality shall be applied simultaneously, if possible, to all necessary areas. DWD 81.09(2)(d)(d) In general, a course of treatment shall be divided into the following 3 phases: DWD 81.09(2)(d)1.1. First, all patients with an upper extremity disorder shall be given initial nonsurgical management, unless otherwise specified. Initial nonsurgical management may include any combination of the passive, active, injection, durable medical equipment, and medication treatment modalities listed in subs. (3), (4), (5), (8), and (10), appropriate to the clinical category. The period of initial nonsurgical treatment begins with the first passive, active, injection, durable medical equipment, or medication modality initiated. Initial nonsurgical treatment shall result in progressive improvement as specified in sub. (9). DWD 81.09(2)(d)2.2. Second, for patients with persistent symptoms, initial nonsurgical management is followed by a period of surgical evaluation. This evaluation shall be completed in a timely manner. Surgery, if necessary, shall be performed as expeditiously as possible consistent with sound medical practice and subs. (6), (11) to (16), and s. DWD 81.12 (2). A treating health care provider may do the evaluation or may refer the patient to another health care provider. DWD 81.09(2)(d)2.a.a. Any patient who has had surgery may require postoperative therapy with active and passive treatment modalities. This therapy may be in addition to any received during the period of initial nonsurgical management. DWD 81.09(2)(d)2.c.c. A decision against surgery at any particular time does not preclude a decision for surgery made at a later date. DWD 81.09(2)(d)3.3. Third, for those patients who are not candidates for surgery or refuse surgery, or who do not have complete resolution of their symptoms with surgery, a period of chronic management may be necessary. Chronic management modalities are described in s. DWD 81.13 and may include durable medical equipment as described in sub. (8). DWD 81.09(2)(e)(e) A treating health care provider may refer the patient for a consultation at any time during the course of treatment consistent with accepted medical practice. DWD 81.09(3)(a)(a) General. Except as set forth in par. (b) or s. DWD 81.04 (5), a health care provider may not direct the use of passive treatment modalities in a clinical setting as set forth in pars. (c) to (i) beyond 12 calendar weeks after any of the passive modalities in pars. (c) to (i) are initiated. There are no limitations on the use of passive treatment modalities by the patient at home. DWD 81.09(3)(b)(b) Additional passive treatment modalities. A health care provider may direct an additional 12 visits for the use of passive treatment modalities over an additional 12 months if all of the following apply: DWD 81.09(3)(b)1.1. The patient is released to work or is permanently totally disabled and the additional passive treatment may result in progressive improvement in, or maintenance of, functional status achieved during the initial 12 weeks of passive care. DWD 81.09(3)(b)3.3. A health care provider documents in the medical record a plan to encourage the patient’s independence and decreased reliance on health care providers. DWD 81.09(3)(b)4.4. Management of the patient’s condition includes active treatment modalities during this period. DWD 81.09(3)(b)5.5. The additional 12 visits for passive treatment does not delay the required surgical or chronic pain evaluation required by this chapter. DWD 81.09(3)(b)6.6. Passive care is not necessary while the patient has chronic pain syndrome. DWD 81.09(3)(c)(c) Adjustment or manipulation of joints. For purposes of this paragraph, “adjustment or manipulation of joints” includes chiropractic and osteopathic adjustments or manipulations. All of the following guidelines apply to adjustment or manipulation of joints: DWD 81.09(3)(c)2.2. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 5 times per week for the first one to 2 weeks decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 3. DWD 81.09(3)(d)(d) Thermal treatment. For purposes of this paragraph, “thermal treatment” includes all superficial and deep heating and cooling modalities. Superficial thermal modalities include hot packs, hot soaks, hot water bottles, hydrocollators, heating pads, ice packs, cold soaks, infrared, whirlpool, and fluidotherapy. Deep thermal modalities include diathermy, ultrasound, and microwave. All of the following guidelines apply to thermal treatment: DWD 81.09(3)(d)1.b.b. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 5 times per week for the first one to 3 weeks, decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 1. c. DWD 81.09(3)(d)1.c.c. Maximum treatment duration is 12 weeks of treatment in a clinical setting but only if given in conjunction with other therapies. DWD 81.09(3)(d)2.2. Home use of thermal modalities may be prescribed at any time during the course of treatment. Home use may only involve hot packs, hot soaks, hot water bottles, hydrocollators, heating pads, ice packs, and cold soaks that can be applied by the patient without health care provider assistance. Home use of thermal modalities may not require any special training or monitoring, other than that usually provided by a health care provider during an office visit. DWD 81.09(3)(e)(e) Electrical muscle stimulation. For purposes of this paragraph, “electrical muscle stimulation” includes galvanic stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, interferential and microcurrent techniques. All of the following guidelines apply to electrical muscle stimulation: DWD 81.09(3)(e)1.b.b. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 5 times per week for the first one to 3 weeks, decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 1. c. DWD 81.09(3)(e)1.c.c. Maximum treatment duration is 12 weeks of treatment in a clinical setting but only if given in conjunction with other therapies. DWD 81.09(3)(e)2.2. Home use of an electrical muscle stimulation device may be prescribed at any time during a course of treatment. Initial use of an electrical stimulation device shall be in a supervised setting in order to ensure proper electrode placement and patient education. All of the following guidelines apply to home use of an electrical stimulation device: DWD 81.09(3)(e)2.b.b. Patient may use the electrical stimulation device unsupervised for one month, at which time effectiveness of the treatment shall be reevaluated by a health care provider before continuing home use of the device. DWD 81.09(3)(f)(f) Acupuncture treatments. For purposes of this paragraph, “acupuncture treatments” include endorphin-mediated analgesic therapy that includes classic acupuncture and acupressure. All of the following guidelines apply to acupuncture treatments: DWD 81.09(3)(f)2.2. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 3 times per week for the first one to 3 weeks, decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 3. DWD 81.09(3)(g)(g) Phoresis. For purposes of this paragraph, “phoresis” includes phonopheresis and iontophoresis. All of the following guidelines apply to phoresis: DWD 81.09(3)(g)2.2. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 3 times per week for the first one to 3 weeks, decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 3. DWD 81.09(3)(g)3.3. Maximum treatment duration is 9 sessions of either iontophoresis or phonophoresis, or combination, to any one site, with a maximum duration of 12 weeks for all treatment. DWD 81.09(3)(h)(h) Manual therapy. For purposes of this paragraph, “manual therapy” includes soft tissue and joint mobilization and therapeutic massage. All of the following guidelines apply to manual therapy: DWD 81.09(3)(h)2.2. Maximum treatment frequency is up to 5 times per week for the first one to 2 weeks decreasing in frequency until the end of the maximum treatment duration period in subd. 3. DWD 81.09(3)(i)(i) Splints, braces, and other movement-restricting appliances. Bracing required for longer than 2 weeks shall be accompanied by active motion exercises to avoid stiffness and prolonged disability. All of the following guidelines apply to splints, braces, and other movement-restricting appliances:
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Chs. DWD 80-81; Worker’s Compensation
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