Occupational Health

Drug Screens/Breath Alchohol Testing
Laboratory
Medical Imaging/X-Ray
Physicals
Rehab Services
Spirometry

Pella Regional Health Center Occupational Health offers a broad scope of services to help you restore or maintain the health and well being of your employees.

We use an interdisciplinary approach to provide a seamless system of communication, education, early intervention, and prevention. Our concerned, committed staff has the expertise and skills to assist you in:

  • reducing lost work time
  • reducing Workers' Compensation costs
  • promoting wellness and safety
  • improving employee morale and productivity

We strongly endorse effective injury management, aggressive prevention programs, and intensive education as keys to improving and maintaining the health of your workforce.

Our highly trained professional staff will assist you in selecting the specific components needed to create a program custom-tailored to your needs.

From acute care following an injury and throughout the healing process, to promoting a safe and successful return to work, we offer complete comprehensive care for today's worker.

Drug Screens/Breath Alchohol Testing

It is estimated that 23 million Americans abuse substances on a regular basis. This includes 10 million cocaine users and 18 million alcoholics (many use more than one drug).

Ninety percent of drug abusers work. Admissions to drug treatment programs have risen 500 percent in the last 10 years, with parallel increases in insurance coverage for these programs. Many employers are required by law to maintain a drug-free workplace. Those who are not still have strong reasons to consider a substance abuse policy.

Drug abusers function at approximately 50 to 70 percent of capacity. Compared with other workers, they do lower quality work, make more mistakes, and tend to be careless and poor at planning, preparation, and follow-up tasks. They have a higher rate of absenteeism. They consume 13 times as much health insurance as other employees. Duration of employment is shorter, and accidents are 2 to 5 times more common.

As well, there is often friction between performers and nonperformers, and management time is consumed in issues of quality control, supervision, accident prevention, and other tasks.

Employers can also be found legally liable for injuries, poor quality products, and wrongful acts committed on the job.

  • Drug Tests will be performed by the occupational health staff during business hours and by the lab personnel during non-business hours.
  • Dr. Lloyd Thurston is a certified medical review officer (MRO) and will be available for review of drug screens. It is your responsibility to inform your drug testing company if you desire to use Dr. Thurston's services.
  • Breath Alcohol Testing is available through the PRHC Respiratory Care Department.

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Laboratory

Pella Regional Health Center utilizes state-of-the-art technology to monitor or detect problems before they develop, and to promote overall good health.

The PRHC Laboratory offers profiles for the physicians to use in response to each individual patient, such as the commonly used Comprehensive Metabolic profile and the Basic Metabolic profile. These profiles consist of tests assessing albumin, total bilirubin, calcium, chloride, creatinine, glucose, sodium, potassium, and urea nitrogen.

The Comprehensive Metabolic profile can provide the following information:

  • Albumin: This test is indicative of the amount of protein found in the blood. Protein is important in fighting disease.
  • Total Bilirubin: This test measures liver function, which may be elevated due to heredity or as the result of some disease of the red blood cells. Elevated values should be discussed with a physician.
  • Calcium: This test is indicative of bone function and of the hormones that influence bone function.
  • Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl): This test is the measurement of the ionized salts in the blood, tissue fluids, and cells. They are necessary to preserve a balance between calcium and potassium to maintain normal heart action and the equilibrium of the body. This balance guards against an excessive loss of water from the tissues.
  • Glucose: This is a test for diabetes and is a measure of sugar levels in the blood. If the test is elevated and the subject was fasting, a physician should be consulted.
  • Urea Nitrogen: This test detects the presence of kidney disease, but can indicate a number of other factors. For example, Urea Nitrogen may be elevated in cases of severe dehydration, but is typically reduced during pregnancy.

Other laboratory services include:

  • Lipid Profiles (Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, LDL, Cholesterol/HDL ratio).
  • Thyroid testing (TSH, T4, Free T4, T3 Uptake). The results of a TSH test are used to determine the function of the thyroid gland. Normally, the blood level of the thyroid hormone is consistent, with little day-to-day variation. However, the gland may produce high levels that may speed up the body processes; a poorly functioning gland may produce less than a normal amount of thyroid hormone, which may slow body functions. Abnormal TSH levels should be discussed with a physician.
  • Urinalysis.
  • Electrocardiograms (EKGs).
  • CBC (Complete Blood Count, which includes WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, Platelets).

Combinations of these services can be individualized to fit one's specific needs. Testing is performed at the Pella Regional Health Center Laboratory.

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Medical Imaging/X-Ray

Our medical imaging department utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide local access to a wide array of services.

They include:

  • Multi-slice C.T.
  • Diagnostic ultrasoundNuclear medicine
  • MRI
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Breast Cancer and Mammography screening and education
  • Diagnostic radiology
  • Osteoporosis screening and education.

The most commonly ordered screening x-ray is the chest x-ray. This is used to view the heart size and shape, lungs, mediastinum, and the bones in the chest.

C.T. in combination with a bone mineral analysis package is used to gauge bone density and to assess the risk for bone fractures from osteoporosis, or to determine if a patient could benefit from bone density drug therapy.

A mammogram, along with self and clinical breast exams, is a powerful tool in screening for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms after age 40. We also offer education in the risks and symptoms of breast cancer, and instruct in the proper way to conduct regular self-exams.

All Medical Imaging exams are performed by Registered Radiologic Technologists with Iowa Permits to Practice. These professionals, in their specific imaging modalities, carry additional certifications.

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Physicals

Pella Regional Health Center Occupational Health provides:

  • Pre-employment physicals
  • Asbestos physicals
  • Respirator physicals

Our physicals can provide:

  • Carpal tunnel screening
  • Visual Acuity and color vision assessment
  • Drug screens
  • General health exam
  • Tetanus and immunization updates, if applicable
  • Tuberculin screening
  • Recommendations for placement, limitations, restrictions, etc.

We provide injury evaluation and treatment, and will monitor the rehabilitation of injured or impaired workers. Communication will be maintained between the employee, physician, nurse practitioner, employer, and the insurance company.

It is recommended that the company provide us with a dedicated fax for communication. Confidentiality of the employee's workers' compensation case will be maintained at all times.

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Rehab Services

During the early phase of a work-related injury, the occupational and physical therapists set the stage for optimal recovery and a safe return to work.

Effective therapy assists the injured worker to gain control over an injury and share in the responsibilities for a positive outcome. The focus of the therapy program is to maximize the worker's functional skills in order to perform job tasks effectively and safely to lead the most independent and productive lives as possible.

The therapists most commonly treat such injuries as sprains, strains, and symptoms of cumulative trauma. Severe injuries, such as lacerations, crush injuries, fractures, and tendon repairs are treated as well. Early intervention is essential in the recovery process.

When injuries do not receive immediate attention, healing is slowed and secondary problems can occur. This is counterproductive to early and safe return to work.

The therapists will evaluate and develop a goal directed plan to assist the return-to-work process, which includes the following: • treatment modalities, such as heat, ice, ultrasound, paraffin, or hydro/fluidotherapy are performed to promote healing, provide comfort, reduce pain and swelling
• exercise is an essential component of the therapy treatment by building strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular conditioning.

This whole body approach helps build needed endurance

  • supports, braces, and splints may be recommended and fabricated to immobilize or protect an injured area
  • movement pattern retraining through work simulation to give the worker knowledge of safe, effective ways to perform job tasks
  • tool and job site analysis and modification to maximize function and reduce the risk of future injury
  • the emotional side of an injury is also addressed to increase home/work lifestyle modification and stress management.

This is a critical phase of the recovery process to maximize long-term results. Most importantly, an education process begins that provides the worker with information necessary to take an active role in the restorative process, giving the worker the knowledge to be a safe worker.

All of Pella Regional Health Center's physical and occupational therapists have been trained in the comprehensive program of Isernhagen Work Systems (IWS). IWS is an internationally recognized program that has had worldwide success in returning people to work and to other physical activity, as well as keeping them safe. IWS's advanced training specializes in the areas of functional capacity evaluation, functional job analysis, work conditioning, ergonomics, pre-work screening, cumulative trauma prevention, and acute care. This program allows us to offer the experience of an internationally successful rehabilitation program plus the service of a local institution.

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Spirometry

Spirometry is a NIOSH recommended test to measure lung capacity of employees subject to toxic environments described by OSHA. OSHA mandates respiratory surveillance programs for companies operating with certain toxic environments.

The lung is a portal of entry and a target for toxic agents that can cause significant structural and functional damage. One type of occupational health-related damage is exposure to silica dust. NIOSH estimates that 1.2 million American workers are exposed to silica dust. Employee exposure may occur even with a company respiratory surveillance program in place. Fifteen years can elapse after exposure to diagnosis of debilitating silicosis. However, the occupational health liability may not be clearly cut due to secondary concerns such as smoking.

Spirometry is an important tool which a company may utilize as part of a respiratory surveillance program to trend measurable lung function of employees working in an at-risk environment.

Spirometry is a simple test, and the most frequently used to determine the status of lung function by measuring the volume of air exhaled after maximum inhalation. A technician or practitioner administers spirometry under guidelines set by the American Thoracic Society (ATS). A physician is responsible for diagnosis. ATS guidelines dictate a measurable outcome in which types of lung disease and progression of lung disease can be categorized as normal, obstructive, restrictive, or obstructive-restrictive.

NIOSH ranks lung disease as the primary cause of occupational disease and disability. Because of the rapid rate at which new, potentially toxic agents are being environmentally introduced, spirometry is a recommended component of a company's respiratory surveillance program to trend employee lung function.

The surveillance program functions:

  • As pre-placement to the at-risk environment
  • Annually, while working in an at-risk environment
  • At termination of the at-risk job, and/or termination with the company.

Spirometry, as part of the respiratory surveillance program, will give a company measurable information for all medical, legal, and regulatory audits. Health care benefit costs as well as costs associated with loss of employee productivity will be reduced.

Data from individual and/or composite spirometry provides information that will prompt re-evaluation and change of respiratory surveillance program practice as well as necessary medical intervention for employee(s).

Spirometry is used in both occupational prevention of lung problems and injury diagnostics. Spirometry is an economically simple, reliable tool your company can request of the PRHC occupational health department. Testing can be done at work-site or in our occupational health clinic for approximately 30 minutes of your employee's time.

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Wellness Charges

Diabetes Screening/Glucose Test

 

Lab Blood Testing

 

Basic Life Support/First Aid Class (8 hours)
Basic Life Support/First Aid Renewal (6 hours)
Adult CPR (3 hours)
Infant Child Adult CPR (7 hours)
First Aid (4 hours)

Please call the Pella Regional Health Center Education department at 641.628.6627 for rates and scheduling.

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