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Making Health Count

WorkCare uses knowledge and experience in the medical and healthcare field, applying technology and proven systems to increase productivity, reduce costs, and enhance not only the safety, but the health and wellness of employees. As an integrated health provider, WorkCare is at the forefront of helping employers meet the challenges of managing today's workforce. WorkCare is owned by a team of physicians who, along with a team of allied credentialed health professionals, provide strategic and tactical consulting services and programs to:

  • Improve workforce productivity
  • Enhance employee health
  • Maintain regulatory compliance
  • Mitigate health-cost drivers
  • Advocate positive health behaviors

WorkCare Announcement

WorkCare regrets to announce the passing of its Vice President Dr. M. Donald Whorton. Whorton was an internationally-recognized occupational health physician whose groundbreaking research established that the male reproductive system could be adversely affected if exposed to certain pesticide chemicals. As a direct result of his research in the late 1970s, the need to protect workers from occupational disease or injury became a prominent public health issue, prompting state legislators to take action.

Please click here to read the obituary that was published.

 

WorkCare Physicians in the News

WorkCare physicians have been busy this past year, serving as expert sources for several different publications, presenting at conferences, and publishing studies in peer-reviewed journals. These publications have ranged from occupational safety magazines to high-profile city and state newsletters. For more information about these articles or publications, please email info@workcare.com.

“Analysis of symptoms and physical injury claims after a release of nitrogen tetroxide from a ruptured rail tank car”
- M. Donald Whorton, M.D., M.P.H. (WorkCare) and Kelly Ferguson, Ph.D., PE (Mind Map)
Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, January 2008

  • This study examined the effects of two different exposure models on claimed effects to nitrogen tetroxide from a railroad tank car explosion after a railroad tank car located at a chemical plant in Bogalusa, Louisiana, ruptured, releasing a plume of nitrus tetroxide into the air. Dr. Whorton and Dr. Ferguson managed this study, which involved the data analysis of the symptoms of more than 16,000 claimants.

“Flu Season Is Here”
- Elaine Tonel, M.D., M.S. (WorkCare)
Community Connection (City of Huntington Beach), November 2007

  • Dr. Elaine Tonel, wrote this article on the flu season, offering valuable information on the vaccine, flu symptoms and prevention. This article was published in the November 2007 issue of the monthly publication Community Connection, which is emailed to residents in Huntington Beach.

The article can either be viewed by clicking here or by visiting the City of Huntington Beach’s website.

“Don’t Leave Safety Out In the Cold”
- Katherine Torres
Occupational Hazards, November 1, 2007

  • Dr. Robert Blink, vice president, WorkCare, serves as an expert source in this article “Don’t Leave Safety Out In the Cold” featured in this publications which informs safety, health and industrial hygiene professionals in the manufacturing, construction, and service sectors about trends, management strategies, regulatory news and new products that help them provide safe and healthy work sites. The article details how outdoor workers are at risk of getting cold stress if the proper controls to minimize cold weather hazards are not in place.

This article can be viewed on Occupational Hazards website.

“5 types of supervisors that sabotage your efforts and what to do about their negative behaviors”
Occupational Health and Safety 21, October 1, 2007

  • After speaking about the five types of supervisors at his presentation at the Conference, WorkCare President Dr. Peter Greaney provided the background for this article. Occupational Health and Safety 21 features reader-friendly case studies and interactive features based on real-life OSHA rulings against companies. In the article, Dr. Greaney advises that if you know to deal with the five different types of supervisors, your safety initiatives will go much farther.

Click here to view this article. You can subscribe to this publication by going to www.b21pubs.com.

“AIHce: Improving Return-to-Work Times”
- Josh Cable
Publication: Occupational Hazards, June 6, 2007

  • This article outlines the presentation given by WorkCare President Dr. Peter Greaney and Gary Beswick (Earth Tech) at the 2007AIHce Conference and Expo in Philadelphia. The author recaps the main points of the presentation which cover the 10 pitfalls in return-to-work programs.

To read this article, click here.

“Blackberry Thumb: Emerging work-related ailment or new name for an old problem?”
- Marsinah Trujillo (WorkCare)
California Employer Update (California Chamber of Commerce), January 2008

  • Blackberry thumb, a form of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) or repetitive strain, is a common disorder in the workplace that can be prevented and treated by adopting common sense workplace preventive health principles. In this article, Dr. Peter Greaney offers some insight into the causes of BlackBerry Thumb.

To view this article, click here.

Conference News

This year will be a busy conference season for WorkCare. See below for a list of conferences that we will either be presenting at or exhibiting.

SESHA 2008
(Semiconductor, Environmental, Safety & Health Association)
March 25 - 29, 2008
Portland, OR

See our presentation: “The Health Implications of an Aging Workforce and What It Means to the Semiconductor Industry”
Presented By: Robert Blink M.D., M.P.H. (WorkCare)

The number of workers 55 or older will increase almost 50 percent between 1998 and 2008, while those between 25 and 54 will increase only 5.5 percent. Physiological changes associated with aging that are likely to directly impact upon worker productivity include decreases in:

  • Sensory functions (auditory and visual);
  • Motor functions (musculoskeletal strength and endurance, reaction time);
  • Cardiorespiratory functions (aerobic power).

As the worker population gets older, safety and personnel challenges arise due to both natural aging and the cumulative effects of medical problems. These physiologic changes increase risks of injury from ergonomic/ mechanical, chemical and other hazards.

AIHCE 2008
(American Industrial Hygiene Association)
May 31 - June 5, 2008
Minneapolis, MN

See our presentation “Stretch & Flex Program: Enhancing Employee Health While Reducing Work Related Injuries”
Presented By: Peter Greaney, M.D. (WorkCare) and Willie Piispanen (Washington Group International)

In the construction industry, work is often strenuous and physically demanding, requiring employees to be “industrial athletes.” An engineering/construction company with more than 25,000 employees developed a Stretch & Flex program to help employees maintain physical health and reduce work-related injuries. In its fourth year, the program has demonstrated positive trends in reducing the frequency and costs of soft tissue injuries. This presentation covers the program’s evolution - from concept, assessment of job risk factors to implementation, outreach and metrics.

ASSE 2008
(American Society of Safety Engineers)
June 9 - 12, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
Exhibition only.

DMEC 2008
(Disability Management Employer Coalition)
August 10 - 13, 2008
Denver, CO

See our presentation “Curbing Leave Workarounds: Strategies to Promote Appropriate FML Usage”
Presented By: Peter Greaney, M.D. (WorkCare) and Gaye Hertan (Costco)

Do your employees find creative ways to access additional time off through FML usage? This challenge can be addressed by gaining insight as to how employers can successfully leverage medical clarification and 2nd opinion strategies to curb abuse. Learn the key indicators and assessment tactics used by physicians to help employers comply with the law, identify med-legal red flags, and recognize case triggers that require escalation to physician medical clarification and/or 2nd opinion.

VPPPA 2008
Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association
August 24 - 28, 2008
Anaheim, CA
Presentation to be determined.

For more information about any of the conferences that WorkCare will be attending, please email: info@workcare.com.