What to Expect When Visiting an Occupational Health Center

In 2020, there were 2.7 million nonfatal employee-reported workplace injuries and illnesses.

If you are injured while working, it can feel overwhelming. How can you possibly find the time to see a doctor, get your prescription medication, and then find a physical therapist? More often than not, these services are miles apart and can put added stress on your already stressful situation.

This is where an occupational health center comes in. A center for occupational health is a medical facility made up of specialized disciplines. They are dedicated to the well-being and safety of employees in the workplace.

Consider it like a shopping mall; it has everything you want under one roof. To make your first visit as smooth as possible, here are some things to expect.

How Does Occupational Health Work?

Occupational health centers support injury care, employee wellness, pre-employment services, and more.

Occupational health and wellness specialists can help assess an individual’s ability to perform the requirements of a specified job safely.

If you are injured during a workplace accident, a center of occupational health will serve as the primary care provider for that injury. Experienced medical doctors will evaluate your injury. After that, they will prescribe any treatments to help in your recovery.

Not all injuries can be solved with traditional treatment. An occupational health center can conduct pain management treatments and alternative treatments to return patients to a high quality of life.

Other alternative treatments, such as yoga, chiropractic therapy, and dietary changes, can be used in conjunction or in place of conventional medicine. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, and meditation can also yield positive results.

What Is an Occupational Health Assessment?

An occupational health assessment is a medical examination of an employee. It is performed by an occupational health professional.

The primary purpose is to assess an employee’s physical and mental health, and prevent work-related injuries and illness.

Occupational health assessments are commonly used to determine whether an individual is physically suited for a particular job.

Some jobs require a certain level of physical ability, such as heavy lifting or a high degree of physical exertion. This can include firefighters, lifeguards, military personnel, and construction workers. Think of the duties performed by someone in the military compared to an administrate assistant.

Health checks can be required at various stages of an employee’s employment. An employee may be required to undergo an assessment before starting their job or after a workplace injury.

Health screenings are used to determine:

• Employee meets the physical requirements of the job
• Monitor health status when a job involves exposure to health hazards
• Ensure the employee is ready to return to work after an injury
• Establish conditions an injured employee can do to continue working

These assessments can lead to recommendations on what adjustments should be considered to ensure a safe work environment.

What to Expect From Your Health Assessment

An occupational health clinician will perform your health assessment. They will check the information on your referral form and discuss its contents.

You should bring any medical reports about your condition, details of any medication you are currently taking, and any prescription glasses you might wear.

Depending on your work, your health assessment may comprise:

• A blood pressure test
• A urine sample
• An eye test
• A repository health check
• A hearing test

Most occupational health assessments will involve talking about your problems and answering questions. On average, an assessment will take around an hour. For more complex health problems, it might take slightly longer.

It’s important to remember that a health assessment aims to ensure you can return to work and continue to do so without affecting your health problems.

You will receive a written report at the end of your final assessment. The written report will specify your plan to return to work, temporary or permanent adjustments to the working environment, and any support that might be needed.

Occupational Health Center Services Performed for Employers

Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their employees, including their physical and mental health. A good employer should take this seriously.

A pre-employment medical assessment is often used to assess an individual’s ability to perform their job requirements safely.

An occupational health center can perform a pre-employment medical assessment. They include:

• DOT testing
• Workplace assessments
• Lung function testing
• Respiratory examination
• Vision assessment
• Cardiovascular examination

An assessment can help employers make plans and policies that focus on their employee’s health. These policies aim to make recommendations on minimizing injury, enhancing recovery, and mitigating any dangers of permanent injuries.

Why Choose Injury Care Center?

Unfortunately, workplace injuries can still happen even with the best policies in place. When they do, an occupational health center can help patients achieve recovery milestones.

At the Injury Care Center (ICC), we offer several essential services. They include:

• Pain management
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Massage and manual therapy
• Medical equipment (DME)
• Specialist referral
• Diagnostic testing

ICC believes that rehabilitation should be tailored to the individual and address all concerns they may have while working to re-establish function.

We understand how disruptive a work injury can have on your life. Our goal is to help injured employees benefit the most when it’s time to return to work.

Take the First Step

Whether you’ve been in a car accident or sustained an injury at work, we can help you.

At ICC, we are a full-service medical occupational health center. We provide personalized healthcare following work injuries and car accidents. We work to treat whiplash, concussion, back, neck, arm, leg pain, and orthopedic injury.

We believe everybody deserves the right to quality healthcare. Whether you’re a truck driver or a construction worker, you deserve to be adequately treated.

Our fully licensed and qualified team can help you get back on your feet. Don’t let pain hold you back. Contact us today and take control of your life.