Common Occupational Care Services Provided by Medical Professionals
Medical professionals are often the ones who provide occupational care services for employees. These medical professionals may be physicians, nurses, or other medical personnel.
Occupational health is a branch of medicine that deals with the maintenance and promotion of physical and mental wellness in relation to work. Remember, working conditions can affect an individual’s health, safety, productivity, and ability to enjoy life outside of work. It is, therefore, an important aspect of any occupation.
There are many different types of occupational care services provided by medical professionals, including:
Fitness for Duty Evaluations
Fitness for duty evaluations is a vital part of the medical checkup process. They can identify any underlying psychological or physical conditions that may affect an individual’s ability to perform their job safely, efficiently, or comfortably.
The medical professional will examine specific aspects of function such as strength, range of motion, sensory perception, and motor control/coordination, depending on what type of work the employee does. They will also assess whether it is safe for them to return back to work based on all these factors.
Treating Work-Related Injuries
Doctors and medical professionals help people with work-related injuries by providing treatment to reduce pain, provide support and education about the injury/condition, and help individuals return to their job as soon as possible.
They can also help with the prevention of work-related injuries. This is done through postural assessments, which allow employees to learn how they can improve ergonomics at home or on the job. The medical professional will look at workstation set up, including posture whilst sitting and standing; manual handling (e.g., lifting objects); and repetitions of movements during routine activities. They can also help employers offer educational programs such as safety training for employees who will be operating hazardous equipment on the job site.
Travel Immunization
A doctor is typically the one who will recommend if you need travel immunization. The purpose of this vaccination is to prevent an infection from occurring when traveling outside of the country, but it can also protect against certain diseases and illnesses such as malaria, measles, hepatitis A or B, polio, rabies flu, or yellow fever.
It’s important for anyone planning extended stays abroad to not only visit their doctor right away but to do research about which vaccinations would be best suited based on where they’re going.
Conducting Medical Testing for New Hires
A pre-employment medical exam is a screening to see if the new hire meets standards for understanding and safety in their position. It includes:
A drug test, which may be done by a urine sample or blood draw; checking height/weight, looking at general health factors like vision, hearing, and heart function, and testing for highly infectious diseases as well as examining hands, feet, and skin conditions.
The person undergoing this screening has an opportunity to discuss any medical history with the medical professional administering it before finalizing employment. This way, they can create accommodations that will allow them to have success on the job.
Training for Drug and Alcohol Awareness
This training will cover the dangers of drugs and alcohol, how to know when you’ve had too much to drink or if someone is inebriated and what kind of behavior can be a sign that they might have a problem with substances.
Overseeing Health Fairs
Medical professionals are often sought after to staff health fairs. These events may be done within the company or outside. The healthcare solutions providers at health fairs may provide information about general well-being and the impact of certain jobs on an individual’s physical and mental well-being.
Additional benefits of occupational care services include preventing injuries from happening, improving quality of life through therapy sessions as well as increasing productivity at work by decreasing workers’ compensation claims. This is because if employers are aware that their employees have a better chance of staying on the job or returning sooner after an injury without taking time off, then employers generally don’t push them out, which means more money in your pocket.