Mode 1
GP-initiated contact
We always offer the family physician the opportunity to speak with our psychiatrist to discuss FPA findings, diagnosis, or recommendations.
Function-Focused Mental Health
MD-led. Function-focused. Delivered within 10 business days.
Written for case managers — not for adjudication.
The BridgeMed FPA is designed to answer the question every case manager needs answered: does this plan member have the preserved abilities to return to work, and what accommodations are needed for their residual limitations?
Our report uses plain, functional language — not clinical jargon — 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
Comprehensive diagnostic synthesis — critical in the 66% of cases where the working diagnosis turns out to be wrong or incomplete.
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 | Yes — accommodation-ready language |
| 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 | Case manager and GP — plain language |
| 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.
Initiate referral
Email case history and medical documentation to inquiries@bridgemedhealth.com.
Acknowledge & confirm
BridgeMed intake team confirms receipt and package completeness.
Clinical review
Within 1–2 business days, a clinician confirms suitability and assigns a psychiatrist.
Schedule FPA
FPA scheduled within 10 business days. Psychometric testing completed in-app prior.
Conduct virtual FPA
Plan member meets the psychiatrist via the encrypted, PHIPA-compliant BridgeMed Health platform.
Deliver FPA report
Report sent securely to GP and case manager. RTW-focused therapy approval sought if indicated.
After every FPA, our psychiatrist remains available to the plan member's family physician. Contact is available in three ways — to keep the clinical loop closed and the case moving.
GP-initiated contact
We always offer the family physician the opportunity to speak with our psychiatrist to discuss FPA findings, diagnosis, or recommendations.
Psychiatrist-initiated contact
Our psychiatrist proactively calls the GP when warranted by complexity, comorbidity, or where medication changes need joint clinical alignment.
During RTW psychotherapy
The GP is asked to confirm they have read the FPA and to flag any contraindications. If the case stalls during therapy, the therapist re-engages the psychiatrist — who can call the GP directly to overcome the barrier.
Email is the fastest path — we typically respond within one business day. The FPA appointment is scheduled within 10 business days.
Phone: 1 (437) 475-6550 · Fax: 1-888-364-9669 (toll free)