Worksite Health Care Programs
Optim specializes in staffing, operating and managing onsite health clinics that reduce medical costs, recordable injury rates, lost-time and use of outside health care providers. Onsite services include a broad range of treatment and prevention programs focused on acute and chronic health conditions.
Optim Worksite Health Care Programs can provide:
Health Risk and Disease Management (HRDM)
Work-related Injury and Illness Management
Integrated Absence Management
Health Assessments
Health Promotion and Education Programs
Counseling and Crisis Intervention
Case Management:
The occupational health nurse, as the case manager is the ideal professional to coordinate health care services from onset of injury or illness to safe return to work or an optimal alternative. The case manager:
- Is familiar with each employee’s work environment because they work in the same place. This allows the case manager to thoroughly understand the functional requirements of each employee’s job.
- Often provides the initial injury response and treatment, ensuring accurate understanding of the workers’ case which promotes continuity of care from the very beginning.
- Can follow-up with employees directly while they’re on modified duty. This ensures the case manager has accurate and timely feedback about the employee’s recovery process so appropriate adjustments can be made.
- Can talk to key stakeholders in the organization, from the injured worker’s Supervisor to the Benefits and Human Resources staff. Because the case manager is on-site, communication between everyone involved is stream-lined and adjustments can be made very quickly if needed.
- Is familiar with local providers. Onsite case managers can visit or call physicians or therapists as necessary to ensure positive outcomes for the employee and employer.
Health Risk and Disease Management (HRDM):
When it comes to employer-sponsored healthcare plans, 70% of the healthcare costs are for just 10% of the population who have diagnosed chronic disease. The reasons for this are complex, but one proven solution is remarkably simple: education. By teaching individuals with diagnosed chronic disease how to better manage their health, people become more informed healthcare consumers and make better health decisions. Over time, they require fewer services, which reduces overall healthcare costs.
Optim’s HRDM model has the occupational health nurse (OHN) as the primary coach, working with individuals one-on-one to achieve their health goals. Additionally, the OHN can bring in specialty coaches, such as a certified diabetes educator (CDE) or an exercise physiologist (EP) for those individuals with more specialized needs. With the OHN as the primary coach and the specialty coaches brought in as needed, we’re able to provide physical and emotional support and encouragement by offering an integrative approach combining education, support, advocacy and care management in order to help participants understand and manage their conditions effectively.
Our multidisciplinary team includes:
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Diabetes Educators
- Exercise Physiologists
- Registered Dieticians
Work-related Injury and Illness Management:
The occupational health nurse provides prompt, professional care for emergencies and minor illnesses and injuries. Follow-up includes continuous care and prompt referral for further treatment when appropriate. Benefits include decreased workers’ compensation costs, lowered disability, decreased lost work time and lowered costs for training replacement workers.
Return to top
Integrated Absence Management:
Integrated absence management is an emerging specialty. In its simplest form, integrated absence management involves coordinating or combining occupational and non-occupational health care, especially the return to work component. The staff, skills, and systems necessary to return an employee to work after an occupational injury can be identical to the resources necessary to return the employee to work after a non-occupational injury, yet many companies manage the return to work administration of these injuries very differently. That’s where Optim comes in. Our onsite clinic becomes a single point of contact for employees returning to work. And our systems and software help coordinate and share data between the employee, departments, and agencies to reduce duplication and increase efficiency.
Since every company’s absence policies are different, there is no "one size fits all" solution when integrating absence management. However, Optim’s systems are flexible enough that we can partner with clients to integrate many of the key elements successfully.
Return to top
Ergonomic Assessment and Intervention:
Ergonomic related injuries account for over 40% of all workplace injuries. While statistics show that the number of incidents are decreasing, the cost of these injuries continues to climb. From analysis to training to comprehensive ergonomic program development, Optim ergonomic services focus on improving human performance to protect workers, maximize overall productivity and reduce costs.
Our Certified Professional Ergonomists (CPE) and Ergonomic Specialists (ES) have extensive experience in injury and task analyses in both the office and industrial setting.
We provide services in the following areas:
- Injury and illness data analysis
- Task analysis and problem solving
- Ergonomic program assessment, development and implementation
- Product evaluation and design
- Training
Health Assessments:
Health assessments help match workers’ capabilities to job requirements. The occupational health nurse’s skills in performing a health history and physical examination and knowledge of the work environment, disability laws and regulatory health medical surveillance requirements can contribute to management decisions in human resources. Periodic physical examination and evaluations for problems such as excessive absenteeism or poor job performance can lead to early detection of health problems. Prompt referral and treatment save on future health care costs and keep employees on the job.
Return to top
Health Promotion and Education Programs:
Employees learn to assume more responsibility for staying healthy through health education programs that encourage workers to take responsibility for their own health. Smoking cessation, exercise/fitness, nutrition and weight control, stress management, control of chronic illnesses and effective use of medical services are just a few of the preventive strategies to keep employees healthy and productive. These programs reduce health care costs, lower absenteeism, improve employee fitness for work and give workers a sense of the employer’s concern for their well-being, which can motivate improved performance.
Health Promotion Delivery Models include:
- Health Risk Assessments
- Wellness Coaching
- "Brown Bag" lunch presentations from on-site staff, or local speakers and experts
- Pamphlets, display, and kiosks with general information or services customized for the site
- Health Fairs, coordinated with local vendors, general or focused on specific health needs
- Screenings - such as cholesterol, blood pressure checks, diabetes and blood sugar screening, body fat analysis, body mass index, and fitness screening
- Immunizations - such as an annual flu shot program
Counseling and Crisis Intervention:
The occupational health nurse counsels for issues such as substance abuse and emotional and/or family problems. They also coordinate referrals to employee assistance programs and/or other community resources and coordinate follow-up care. Treatment of these problems lowers insurance costs and improves performance while generating goodwill by demonstration of company caring.
Return to top