MD-led. Function-focused. Delivered within 10 business days.
Written for case managers, not adjudicators.
Standard psychiatry assessments are written for symptom documentation. The BridgeMed FPA answers the case manager's question: does this plan member have enough preserved abilities to return to work, and what accommodations do their residual limitations require?
The report uses plain, functional language so case managers and family physicians can act on it immediately.
Direct referral to a psychiatrist trained in return-to-work and complex / treatment-resistant cases. Comprehensive bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment, optimized for family physicians and case managers.
Medical History
Past psychiatric history, medical history, prior pharmacotherapy trials, family history, functional psychosocial history.
Mental Status Exam
Standardized psychiatric examination.
Diagnostic Impression & Formulation
The psychiatrist provides a comprehensive diagnostic synthesis. In 66% of referred cases, the working diagnosis turns out to be wrong or incomplete, which is why independent psychiatric formulation is the foundation of the BridgeMed process. (Source: BridgeMed Health Claims Gains data, December 2025.)
Function Focus
Activities of Daily Life, Workplace Issues, and Functional Capacity, reported in language a case manager can use to determine preserved abilities and plan accommodations for residual limitations.
Treatment Recommendations
Biological interventions (medication and/or testing) and psychosocial interventions, integrated with the plan member's GP and therapy team.
| Standard Psychiatry | BridgeMed FPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Wait Time | 22.3 weeks (Fraser Institute) | 10 business days |
| RTW Focus | Rarely | Yes, explicit goal |
| Functional Capacity Assessment | Rarely | Yes, Activities of Daily Life + Workplace Issues |
| Preserved Ability Assessment | No | What the plan member can do, specific residual limitations, and accommodation recommendations for each. |
| Holistic Formulation | Rarely | Full Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual |
| Report Delivery | Sent to GP | Sent to GP + case manager + proactive psychiatrist follow-up |
| Goal | Treat symptoms | Optimize function, expedite RTW |
Source: Fraser Institute Canadian wait-time benchmark; BridgeMed Health clinical practice.
The FPA is not a paid Independent Medical Examination dressed up as therapy access. It is a different category of clinical work, built around the plan member's recovery rather than around adjudication.
| Dimension | IME | BridgeMed FPA |
|---|---|---|
| RTW Focus | Depends on the question | Yes, explicit goal |
| Doctor–Patient Relationship | No | Yes |
| Functional Capacity Assessment | Rarely | Yes, preserved abilities documented |
| Holistic Formulation | Seldom | Full Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual |
| Actionable Treatment Plan | Rarely | Yes, proactive follow-up with GP |
| Report Written For | Adjudication | Plain language for the case manager and GP |
| Goal | Document for adjudication | Optimize function, expedite RTW |
Best results when referred within 6 months of disability onset.
Timeline
Plan member off work for any duration, ideally within 6 months of onset.
Diagnosis Flags
No formal diagnosis, working diagnosis not reconsidered despite worsening, or suspected comorbidity (PTSD, OCD, substance use, personality features).
Not Progressing
Not recovering as expected. Functional decline despite adherence to current treatment.
Medication Concerns
Same medications for years with no reassessment, or no benefit from a recently added medication.
Mixed Presentation
Mental health alongside medical comorbidity, situational stressors, or workplace conflict.
Each FPA concludes with our psychiatrist sending the report to the plan member’s family physician and offering to collaborate. This ensures that the plan member starts treatment as soon as possible.
Phone: 1 (437) 475-6550 · Fax: 1-888-364-9669 (toll free)