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West Central Ohio Regional Healthcare
Alliance May eNewsletter |
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TIP OF THE MONTH
The seasonal shift to warmer temperatures ushers in
the daunting chore of spring cleaning. Cleaning
industry workers perform tasks year-round that
expose them to safety hazards including slips, trips
and falls, contact with toxic chemicals and
ergonomic issues. Visit OSHA's Safety and Health
Topics page on the
cleaning industry
to learn preventive measures for these hazards and
others, and for information on improving workplace
safety and health.
Editor:
Kimberly Tucker, OSHA Office of Communications,
202-693-1999,
www.osha.gov
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HOT TOPIC
May is National High
Blood Pressure Month
You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by
adopting a healthy lifestyle. These steps include
maintaining a healthy weight; being physically
active; following a healthy eating plan, that
emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy
foods; choosing and preparing foods with less salt
and sodium; and, if you drink alcoholic beverages,
drinking in moderation. In this section you will
learn more about healthy lifestyle habits for
preventing and controlling high blood pressure.
For more information on Blood Pressure visit:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html
Source:
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
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WCORHA UPDATE
Pilots Medical Certificate obtained
Dr. Juan Torres, Medical Director, and Occupational
Health Physician at Joint
Township
District
Memorial
Hospital, has recently
completed the training and designated by the FAA to
be an AME (Aviation Medical Examiner). The occupational
health clinic will begin accepting appointments for
pilots’ medical certifications in May 2009. If you
have any questions regarding a pilot physical exam,
please contact our AME
at the Occupational Health clinic at
Joint
Township
District
Memorial
Hospital.
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Coming this Fall
OSHA 10 Hour Safety
Training Course (for General Industry)
September 29 & 30, 2009 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Grand Lake Regional Cancer Center
Presented by Maria Bayless, PHR, OS
Please contact Ami Boley for details or to register,
419-584-0398, or
abboley@health-partners.org
Watch
for information about our
“Tri-County Worksite
Wellness Summit” being held this fall.
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Jayanth Gutta, M.D.
appointed Medical Director of Mercer Health's
Occupational Health program
Dr. Gutta has been practicing pulmonary and critical
care medicine at the Community Medical Center in
Celina since 2006, and is board certified in
Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and
Pulmonary Medicine. He states that he looks forward
to working with the occupational health staff to
provide services to area businesses and industries.
Renee Kinney RN, Director of Mercer Health Wellness
Services/Occupational Health says, “Dr. Gutta will
be a great asset in meeting the health care needs of
our companies and employees. He is a pleasure to
work with and brings a wealth of medical expertise
and experience". |
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WELLNESS UPDATE
It’s a fact:
For every $1.00 spent on wellness programs,
employers can expect a return of $2.30 to $10.10 as
a result of lower medical claims, reduced
absenteeism, improved productivity, and other
factors.
-American Journal of Health Promotions
According to a recent survey on corporate wellness
programs:
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87% of companies said having a corporate culture
that promotes healthy lifestyle choices was a
priority
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65% said they already had moderate or extensive
wellness programs
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19% planned to increase wellness budgets
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59% said spending levels would stay the same.
-Buck Consultants, press release, March 17, 2009
Looking for ways to make your
Wellness Program more Effective?
Check this out!
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OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE UPDATE
The Importance of Drug Testing
Juan V Torres MD, MPH, Joint Township District
Memorial Hospital
A drug free workplace is a safer workplace. This is
one of the main
reasons it is important for companies to promote
a drug free environment. A study found about 40% to
60% of all admitted patients to trauma centers were
injured while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. In the USA the abuse of drugs other than
alcohol cost $181 billion in 2002. There are about
14.8 million users of marijuana, making it the most
widely used. In 2006 about 7 million people used
prescription drugs (pain killers, tranquilizers and
sedatives) for non-medical purposes.
The use of illegal drugs and the misuse of
prescription drugs affect the well being of workers,
decrease productivity and hurt the employer’s
profits. According to the Department of Health and
Human Services about 65% of people who abuse or are
dependent on illicit drugs are employed. Loss of
productivity accounts for $129 billion of their
total economic cost. Substance abuse results in
higher healthcare costs because of injuries and
illnesses, more absenteeism, reduced productivity,
and more workers compensation and disability claim.
There are other costs associated with substance
abuse by workers. These are the legal costs and
headaches associated with it. For example, an
employer was found negligent for hiring a
“drug-using” trucker. A jury in Kansas awarded $23.5
million to a truck driver who was hit by another
truck driver whose post-accident drug test was
positive for methamphetamine. Another Georgia based
truck company was charged of negligent hiring for
failing to perform a complete background on a driver
who had tested positive for marijuana in another
trucking company and failed to complete the return
to duty requirements.
What the employers should do?
Many companies are incorporating substance abuse
education and prevention in their Wellness Programs.
These allow employers to have effective ways to
reduce the costs associated with drugs and alcohol
abuse. Promote a drug-free workplace environment by
educating the employees on drug abuse issues, drug
testing, a written policy about the program, clearly
defined consequences of using drugs, and related
workplace policies. Rehabilitation programs and
referral to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
should be part of the approach in dealing with
substance abuse. A comprehensive EAP should provide
confidential services including education, drug
screening and referrals for appropriate treatment.
Finally, treatment should be tailored to specific
individuals needs. It is important to provide health
care benefits that support a broad range of services
including screening, brief interventions,
counseling, and medical services that can be
adjusted to each individual’s special circumstances.
These have been demonstrated to be the most
effective interventions.
By establishing a drug-free workplace program the
employers can help their business by reducing the
costs associated with the abuse of drugs and
alcohol. They will also be able to help their
employees to overcome substance dependence.
Everybody wins!
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OSHA UPDATE
Worker’s Safety and Health Guidance for H1N1
influenza virus (Swine Flu)
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An
influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus
emerges for which there is little or no immunity in
the human population; begins to cause serious
illness; and then spreads easily person-to-person
worldwide. A worldwide influenza pandemic could have
a major effect on the global economy, including
travel, trade, tourism, food, consumption and
eventually, investment and financial markets.
Planning for pandemic influenza by business and
industry is essential to minimize a pandemic's
impact. It is difficult to predict when the next
influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will
be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts,
everyone around the world is at risk. Countries
might, through measures such as border closures and
travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but
cannot stop it.
During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated
in the workplace, not only from patient to workers
in health care settings, but also among co-workers
in general work settings. A pandemic would cause
high levels of illness, death, social disruption,
and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted
because so many people in so many places become
seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range
from school and business closings to the
interruption of basic services such as public
transportation and food delivery. Education and
outreach are critical to preparing for a pandemic.
Understanding what a pandemic is, what needs to be
done at all levels to prepare for pandemic
influenza, and what could happen during a pandemic
helps us make informed decisions both as individuals
and as a nation.
Should a pandemic occur the public must be able to
depend on its government to provide scientifically
sound public health information quickly, openly and
dependably. For additional information on pandemic
influenza, see
One-stop access to U.S.government avian and pandemic
flu information. Source: www.osha.gov
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