Toledo, OH – Mercy Occupational Health Services (“MOHS”) is pleased to acknowledge their 20-year anniversary, which historically means that MOHS is the oldest provider of such services in Northwest Ohio, according to Mercy Health Partners officials.
Occupational medicine and health services were officially introduced in the U.S. in 1970 when Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Such services were formally incepted at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in 1982. Since that time, the service has expanded regionally to include the Work Injury Network at St. Charles Mercy Hospital.
“Occupational medicine as a specialty is responsible for a dramatic decrease in worker injuries, illnesses, and fatalities over the years,” said Sue Parkins, M.D., Medical Director of MOHS. “The combination of prompt injury care, preventative measures, and education allows greater productivity for workers and significantly decreased medical and other costs for companies and organizations, adding directly to the bottom line,” added Michael Riethmiller, M.D., J.D., also a Certified Occupational Medicine specialist, Certified Independent Medical Examiner, and Certified Medical Review Officer.
Services offered by MOHS include acute injury care; injury follow-up care and return-to-work evaluations; pre- and post-employment physicals and Independent Medical Exams; drug and alcohol screening; work-site, OSHA, and hazardous material evaluations; respirator, hearing, vision, and pulmonary screening; vaccinations for flu and Hepatitis, and those workers traveling overseas; and educational programs. “It is important that companies are cognizant of using a certified Bureau of Worker’s Compensation physician for these specialized needs, and in particular, occupational medicine specialists,” said Dr. Parkins.
Each MOHS office, located in the main hospital of both St. Vincent and St. Charles, is open for services from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For weekend and after-hours needs, the MOHS departmental offices work closely with each facility’s Emergency Department to coordinate follow-up care.
Mercy Celebrates 20 Years of Occupational Health Services