There are numerous challenges faced by hygienists and H&S professionals when engaging the services of independent physicians and medical practitioners not formally trained in occupational medicine for facilities without on-site medical staffing, including whether exams are even necessary and what type of exam should
be performed beyond regulatory requirements. This session will be organized to present perspectives from occupational medicine physicians and H&S professionals for engaging, educating, and sustaining relations with these non-occupational medicine physicians (family practice, orthopedic, ER, etc.) and other health care practitioners, as well determining which kinds of examinations are valuable beyond just meeting compliance needs. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how to build rapport with a local physician/medical provider, as well as some practical, proven techniques for evaluating, initiating and sustaining
relationships with these very valuable facility resources, and what are the essential components in a preplacement, fitness for duty, and/or wellness examination.
• Are Medical Exams Worth Doing? Physician Perspectives on Company Medical Management. H. Sandler, Sandler Occupational Medicine Associates, Gaithersburg, MD.
• Setting Employer and Employee Expectations for a More Efficient Return to Work Process. P. Greaney, WorkCare, Orange, CA.
• Case Study: Evaluating Contract Medical Service Providers. T. Maples, Evonik-Degussa Corp., Theodore, AL.
• Engaging Local Medical Resources - What the H&S Professional Should Know. D.P. DiBoyan, Cabot Corp., Alpharetta, GA.