WorkMed for Injured Workers

Union Hospital has been caring for workplace injuries for hundreds of people each year. Recently, the hospital has created its Occupational Medicine Department to expand its range of medical services and named the new program WorkMed.

Kyle Wallick, WorkMed director, says caring for injured workers is nothing new at Union Hospital.

“Whether it is emergency care following a workplace injury, x-rays, lab tests, or rehabilitation, Union Hospital has been providing occupational medicine services to the community for decades”, Wallick says. “WorkMed expands and consolidates these services into a full-service occupational health program, providing coordination of care from the time of injury to a return to work.”

The WorkMed offices are located in the newly expanded section of the Union Hospital Emergency Department. Wallick says this location is near the hospital’s Radiology and Laboratory departments so these services are always available when needed by the patient without scheduling additional testing appointments.

Wallick says the WorkMed program is designed to meet the needs of the business community. “We are prepared for the immediate care needs of the injured worker. Then we can provide management of their followup care, rehabilitation, and evaluations to help get them back on the job safely and as quickly as possible.”

Troy Amos of Strasburg was impressed with his visit to WorkMed following an ankle sprain. Amos drives a sales route for the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of New Philadelphia and was injured on the job.

“When I first came to the ER after I was hurt I didn’t even sit in the waiting room but was immediately treated,” Amos says. “I’d expected a long wait but it only took about an hour and a half to see the doctor, get x-rays, and get fixed up with a boot so I didn’t even have to miss work!”

Amos has returned to the WorkMed office several times for followup care for his ankle injury.

In addition to followup care of injured workers, Wallick says the occupational medicine department services include post-offer employment physicals, return to work exams, DOT physicals, on-site hearing tests, pulmonary function testing, and BWC specialty exams.

Wallick says he is eager to meet members of the business community to better understand the unique characteristics of individual workplace settings. Wallick says the WorkMed team not only meets the needs of injured workers but also considers the special work environments of individual employers and workplaces.

New patients are being accepted. The WorkMed office phone number is (330) 602-0797.