We offer professional assessments for a variety of special situations. In each case, we conduct our assessments using the most up-to-date testing methods. We apply expert knowledge based on thorough familiarity with the subject and extensive practical experience.
Disability Claimants
Dr. David O’Grady offers independent professional evaluations of a claimant’s capacity for work. He evaluates cognitive and emotional limitations, motivation, symptom magnification, and appropriateness of current treatment. He provides recommendations for future treatment, guidelines for return to work and suggestions for employer accommodations.
Fitness for Duty
Many medical and psychiatric conditions can impair a person’s work performance, sometimes causing risk of harm to others or interfering with work flow. Dr. David O’Grady conducts assessments to determine if an individual is able to perform his or her job duties in a manner that is safe, reliable and consistent. He bases the evaluation on a detailed review of the job description and thorough assessment of the cognitive, interpersonal and psychological capacities needed to perform the job.
Capacity for Making Decisions
Mental capacity, or competence, for making decisions about financial matters or medical care can deteriorate because of dementia or other neuropsychological impairments. Dr. David O’Grady offers comprehensive, impartial evaluations to help answer questions about testamentary capacity, competence to manage finances, and ability to make sound healthcare decisions.
Evaluation and Consultation for Weight-loss Surgery
For ten years Dr. Susan O’Grady has been conducting pre-surgical assessments for patients considering weight loss surgery. The evaluation looks at psychological stability, level of emotional preparation, motivation, and likelihood of adherence to medical protocols. Physicians performing weight-loss surgery and many insurance carriers require “psychological clearance” prior to surgery. Dr. O’Grady helps the patient consider the possible changes in self-image, family relationships, and body image that often accompany gastric bypass surgery. Dr. O’Grady often works with the patient from the pre-operative consultation through the initial restricted dietary changes to help find new ways to self-soothe when food is not available. In her experience, patients have been uniformly pleased with the success of their weight loss surgery. Although hard, their efforts have been well rewarded with enhanced self-esteem and more engagement in life and family activities.
Candidates for Ovum Donation
Dr. Susan O’Grady evaluates psychological health, presence or absence of serious psychopathology, level of emotional preparation, motivation, and likelihood of adherence to medical protocols.
Candidates for Surrogate Pregnancy
Dr. Susan O’Grady evaluates psychological health, presence of or absence of serious psychopathology, level of emotional preparation, motivation, and likelihood of adherence to medical protocols.
