Case StudyOccupational Health and Safety

Design of Medical Surveillance Program

By October 30, 2008 No Comments

WorkCare designed and maintains a medical surveillance program for over 3,000 employees engaged in hazardous waste site practice at over 80 sites throughout the United States for this engineering firm. Other services include drug and alcohol testing program, executive physicals, evaluation of all potential exposure incidents and case management for any employees injured as a result of work activities.


· Compliance Standards: All works is performed to OSHA standards and employer requirements. For hazardous waste workers, the standard is 29 CFR 1910.120. WorkCare is the custodian of records for the client and maintains medical records in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20. Medical providers are credentialed to standards of the National Council of Quality Assurance (NCQA). A complete quality assurance program is in place, including a patient survey program and use of WorkCare’s quality assurance committee and program. Medical practice standards include those of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Physicians (ACOEM), the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and Federal regulations.


· Medical Services Performed: WorkCare has consulted for this nationwide company of engineers since 1984 and began similar services for a wholly-owned construction subsidiary, in 1996. WorkCare is the custodian of medical records for over 15,000 medical exams for all current and past employees. Services provided include Department of Transportation random drug testing, pre-placement and post-accident drug testing, post-offer physical exams, medical surveillance examinations. The program integrates employee exposures and examinations are tailored to each employee’s job task analysis and potential for exposure. The categorization of employees for testing is done in consultation with employer’s health and safety (industrial hygiene staff). WorkCare maintains an electronic media data base of all exam results and tracks group changes.


WorkCare provides travel medicine support services for employees traveling to foreign destinations, including administration of CDC-required immunizations. WorkCare physicians evaluate all potential exposure incidents and coordination of case (case management) for employee injuries and professional witness testimony. WorkCare provides quarterly and annual reports on overall results of testing and on quality assurance issues.


Contract Successes: The WorkCare program has resulted in significant cost reductions to the medical surveillance program, improvement in quality of services, and maintenance of worker health protection. The client was able to reduce areas of testing based on WorkCare’s medical surveillance data analysis and to maintain a program in compliance with OSHA standards. The average cost per employee has decreased over 60% during the 15 years of service this client.

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