Occupational medicine & workers' comp.

Occupational medicine is more than treating employees for injuries and illnesses in the workplace. At HealthCare Partners Medical Group, we assist employers in the full spectrum of occupational medicine services, including hiring and maintaining a healthy workforce.

Special Occupational Medicine Services

Occupational medicine services include:

Testing services, such as hearing, vision, and strength

Physical exams

Drug/alcohol screening

Respiratory protection programs

Ergonomic evaluations for prevention of injuries

Site safety assessment

Drivers' screening (DOT and nonDOT)

Job assessment and safety issues

Preventive services 

Physical and rehabilitative therapy

Occupational case management

Specialized consultations to develop job descriptions and drug policies to ensure that safety standards are met

Workers' Compensation 

Every employee in California is covered by the no-fault worker's compensation (WC) system, which entitles people injured on the job to receive "all medical care reasonably required to cure or relieve the injury."

For workers injured on the job, we provide immediate care, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. We even provide free transportation to our center for all patients with new injuries.

Accessing Care

Employees should be advised to do the following:

* Report job injury as soon as possible to his/her immediate supervisor.

* Your supervisor will direct you to a company approved panel of doctors for your care.

* The company approved doctor will evaluate the extent of injuries--hopefully before 24-hours have elapsed.

Getting injured workers necessary and appropriate care as soon as possible is key to preventing further injury and to cost containment.

A key feature of the WC system is continuity of care--from initial evaluation to medical treatment to physical therapy for injury recovery and risk reduction to occupational therapy (if necessary) and modified work duty/work capacity assessment and return-to-work physical examinations. At HealthCare Partners, we take the concept of continuity of care seriously, working with both employee and employer to provide the best outcomes.

My job as a doctor working in occupational medicine is to restore function and get people back to the business of living--including working at their jobs--as early as medically appropriate. Within the context of occupational medicine, HealthCare Partners Medical Group assists employers and employees in occupational medical care for optimal results. We provide job site evaluations and testing before hiring to on-the-job screenings and assessments to managing patient care.

Michael Hadley, MD, is with HealthCare Partners Medical Group. He completed his medical education at the USC School of Medicine. He has been practicing occupational medicine for 20 years and is certified by AMROCC. For more information about HealthCare Partners, call either of their two occupational medical centers: Los Angeles [phone] or [phone].