ALBERTA PERMANENT CLINICAL IMPAIRMENT GUIDE - Workers ...

I. IntroductionDETERMINING PERMANENT CLINICAL IMPAIRMENTAND PERMANENT DISABILITYOnce a worker's claim for injury compensation has been accepted, the presenceand extent of permanent damage must, at some point, be established. 1 Thetiming of the clinical assessment requires maximal medical recovery. This variesgreatly, depending on the nature and extent of injury and treatment efficacy. Inaddition, since compensation benefits are based on income loss, determinationof permanent disability should ideally take place after the claimant hassuccessfully returned to employment of some kind.This document is a descriptive guide to the process currently in use by Medicaland Claimant Services in rating Permanent Clinical Impairment (PCI).1. The Workers' Compensation Board Act RSA 2000, s.43(2) states that"Permanent and Total Disability shall be conclusively presumed in allcases in which the injuries suffered consist of or include any or all of thefollowing:a) total and permanent loss of the sight of both eyes;b) the loss of both feet at or above the ankle;c) the loss of both hands at or above the wrist;d) the loss of one hand at or above the wrist and one foot at or abovethe ankle;e) an injury to the spine resulting in permanent and complete paralysisof both legs, both arms or one leg and one arm;f) an injury to the central nervous system resulting in mentalincompetence that renders the worker incapable of being gainfullyemployed."Page iCOPYRIGHT 2009 All Rights Reserved December 1, 2009