Ch. 699                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND

(8) (a) In this article, the following terms have the
meanings indicated:

(i) 1. "Vocational rehabilitation
SERVICES" means professional services reasonably necessary DURING
OR AFTER OR BOTH DURING AND AFTER MEDICAL TREATMENT to enable an
injured employee, as soon as practical, to [[achieve maximum
medical improvement and]] secure suitable gainful employment.

INCLUDES:

DEVELOPMENT;
MONITORING;

2. "VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES"

A.  COORDINATION OF MEDICAL SERVICES;

B.  VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT;

C.  VOCATIONAL EVALUATION;

D.  VOCATIONAL COUNSELING;

E.  VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PLAN

F.  VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PLAN

G.  VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TRAINING;
H. JOB DEVELOPMENT; AND

I. JOB PLACEMENT.

(ii) "Suitable gainful employment" means
employment, including self-employment, which restores the injured
employee, to the extent possible, to the level of support at the
time of the injury, giving due consideration to the employee's
qualifications, interests, incentives, preinjury earnings, and
future earning capacity; the nature and extent of the injury; and
the current and future condition of the labor market.

(III) "VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT" MEANS THE
PROCESS OF:

1.  COLLECTING AND ANALYZING ALL THE
MEDICAL,. EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND ECONOMIC
CIRCUMSTANCES OF AN INJURED EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE INJURED
EMPLOYEE'S PRESENT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES; AND

2.  DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION SERVICES REASONABLY NECESSARY TO RETURN THE
INJURED EMPLOYEE TO SUITABLE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

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