A safe work environment leads to greater productivity from happier employees, and taking care of employees’ health is an essential part of ensuring that a business is profitable.
Occupational health services provider Medcor Canada’s website explains how occupational health, wellness and safety solutions can help employers and their employees navigate the complex healthcare system, manage injury-related costs, reduce workers’ compensation claims and improve worker health and wellbeing. Medcor believes that simplifying the healthcare process for employers provides a better way of life for employees.
Occupational health services cover any injuries and illnesses that are work-related, says Melissa Manion, Medcor’s director of sales and customer success.
“We provide various different types of services, mostly in the occupational health space,” said Manion. “We have a 24/7 triage service, which helps smaller organizations manage injuries by a 1-800 number that workers can call and speak to someone to have injuries assessed. Then, depending on the injury, we can either provide self-care instructions or we can refer them to the hospital or a doctor’s office. We work with clients to make sure they are going to the right place instead of just somewhere they will sit and wait for hours. We also offer mobile treatment centres and onsite clinics where we can have any level of care, whether it’s a first responder, paramedic, nurse or doctor on the worksite to help manage injuries.”
Medcor also assists companies with pre-employment physical examinations, assessing whether a person is initially fit to do the work required. Further, Medcor can conduct physical examinations throughout a worker’s employment.
Construction was the third most dangerous job in Canada in 2022, with only manufacturing and healthcare workers experiencing more injuries, according to Medcor’s website. In 2022, there were more than 28,000 workers injured in construction accidents and 183 construction workers lost their lives.
Heavy construction sites that use Medcor’s services usually choose either the onsite clinic or mobile service option. This can provide workers with prompt care. Medcor offers a variety of mobile solutions, which are often utilized by large contractors in the construction industry with larger workforces that are spread out over many projects.
Every worksite’s needs are different, and the onsite clinics are customizable. Some of the services that clinics can provide include:
- Immediate injury assessment and treatment
- Preventative healthcare services
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Worker claims management
“The triage service is really for smaller construction sites where there are only a handful of people,” said Manion. “Typically, when we work in heavy construction, we are on site.”
Care management can help reduce workers’ compensation claims and increase overall productivity through clinics, safety education, telehealth and wellness programs.
“When workers come to us and they have hurt themselves at work, we’re going to talk them through it,” said Manion. “We’re going to provide treatment and care and we will work with the supervisors to see if there is something else they can do if they can’t go back to their regular duties. We’ll find modified work programs and continue to monitor them to make sure they’re getting better.”
Medcor Canada has experience working with manufacturing, construction, mining and government entities to reduce injuries and manage costs. The most common injuries at heavy construction sites involve sprains and strains, says Manion.
Medcor’s medical providers are educated on occupational injuries and how to manage sprains and strains. They can also provide wellness and injury prevention information to workers, ensuring that they are paying attention to basic workplace safety protocols and using personal protective equipment.
“We’ll always educate employees if they have been injured but our nurses and paramedics also do regular preventative medicine and wellness education and promotion,” said Manion. “We have digital brochures, QR codes, webinars and paper brochures. Our staff will do educational talks at safety meetings.”
“When workers come to us and they have hurt themselves at work, we’re going to talk them through it.”
Melissa Manion, Medcor Canada
Medcor tries to make sure that all aspects of occupational health services are being covered, says Manion. “If injured workers have to go off site for treatment, we will recommend where they should go,” said Manion. “For example, if someone has an eye injury, maybe they go to the optometrist instead of the emergency room. If they need our support in reaching out to the physician, we can try to do that. We make sure they are getting to all their appointments. If they’ve been assigned physiotherapy, we’re going to make sure they’re going, and we will ask how they are feeling as they go. We’re really trying to make sure they get back to work as soon as possible. We try to maintain control of an injury as often as we can, even if the injured worker has to go off site for treatment.”
When workers are injured, they will report the incidents to their supervisors, who will accompany them to Medcor’s clinic, where the injuries can be assessed.
“If the worker can be treated on site, we will talk to the worker about what has happened, what needs to happen next, if they need to come back to see us again, and then we will talk about what their restrictions might be, if any,” said Manion. “Then we will bring the supervisor back in and we are going to have that conversation with them and make sure everyone [agrees]. We also typically inform the safety officers as well, just so everyone understands the situation. The worker will come back to see us the next day and we will see how they are feeling.”
If a worker needs an x-ray or other treatment that cannot be done at the onsite clinic, the Medcor team will send a referral letter and follow up on the treatment that is provided. Medcor can assist companies with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims but does not fill in the claims on behalf of clients.
“We are a supportive and collaborative part of that particular process,” said Manion. “We want to make sure that we’re following their claims management process. We can help with wording or if WSIB is asking questions or requesting more information.”
Medcor also assists companies with pre-employment physical examinations, assessing whether a person is initially fit to do the work required. Further, Medcor can conduct physical examinations throughout a worker’s employment.
Mental health and wellness is a passion for Medcor and something their providers always keep in mind, says Manion.
“We have a lot of resources to help support the health and wellness of workers,” said Manion. “We provide mental health solutions that workers can access virtually in the comfort of their homes or wherever they feel the safest. They can have a virtual one-on-one session with a mental health advocate.”
The Medcor team can become a source of support for the employees of companies that use their services.
“Not only do employees see us when they have a workplace injury, they come to us when they’re just not feeling that great or if they have questions,” said Manion. “We can help them navigate the healthcare system and become a source of support. It helps workers feel that their company is really supporting their health.”