Staying on the job for worker health

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Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Comment

The recent announcement that JobCare, St. Helena Hospital’s occupational medical clinic, will be closing in January was not surprising. The delivery of occupational medical services is labor-intensive, receiving marginal reimbursement by insurers.

Profitability is often dependent on spin-off services such as outpatient surgery, diagnostic procedures and indirect revenue that may occur when the satisfied injured worker shifts their non-industrial medical care to the health care system that provided their occupational medical care, thus underscoring the importance of supporting the local hospital and health care system for both occupational and non-occupational health care needs. The details of JobCare’s financial failure are likely to remain unknown.

The void that this closure will create needs to be filled. The provision of timely and accurate services such as pre-employment physicals, drug screens, and injury and disability management are essential for companies to maintain a healthy workforce and remain productive and competitive.

As a result, WorkHealth, a full service occupational health clinic, has been contacting employers offering its services. As an outpatient clinic of Queen of the Valley Medical Center, we are working closely with hospital administration and will be available to discuss solutions to ensure that employers both up and down valley have access to this essential medical service.

Carl Speizer, medical director

WorkHealth

2 comment(s)

Bill wrote on Jan 2, 2008 12:54 PM:

" Just who qualifies to use this Clinic? Who pays? "

Ruff Limblog wrote on Jan 2, 2008 3:22 PM:

" I've visited WorkHealth for a pre-employment screening. Drug testing, can you lift 70 lbs, that kind of stuff. The employer paid. I am sure they can do more than that, but I was taken care of, and they had a friendly manner as they did their tests. I'd recommend them. ~Ruff
"

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