Medical program

Medical Programs. Large chemical plants have at least one hill-time physician who is at the plant five days a week and on call at all other times. Smaller plants either have part-time physicians or take injured employees to a nearby hospital or clinic by arrangement with the company compensation-insurance carrier. When part-time physicians or outside medical services are used, there is Httle opportunity for medical personnel to become familiar with plant operations or to assist in improving the health aspects of plant work. Therefore, it is essential that chemical-ha2ards manuals and procedures, which highlight symptoms and methods of treatment, be developed. A hill-time industrial physician should devote a substantial amount of time to becoming familiar with the plant, its processes, and the materials employed. Such education enables the physician to be better prepared to treat injuries and illnesses and to advise on preventive measures. 

Outpatient drug-free programs, like therapeutic communities, seek to achieve abstinence without the use of psychoactive medication. Programs range from unstructured drop-in centers with discussion groups and recreational activities to organi2ed day treatment programs. 

Minimum Requirements contains a statement of policy and a list of specific requirements in three sections, Safety, Loss Prevention, and Security, plus a section on Other Related Safety, Loss Prevention and Security Requirements. The latter section addresses distribution emergency response, industrial hygiene and medical programs, material hazard identification, and product stewardship. 

There appears to be no doubt that the design concerns that have been discussed are important in the specific case of designing facilities for the care and treatment of the mentally ill. The degree to which the architectural environment supports the medical program at the Yorkton Psychiatric Centre, and at other hospitals that have been designed with perceptual considerations in mind, has not yet been measured and may be difficult to measure. However, there is a slow accumulation of information confirming the validity of the argument that the environment does have contributory effects and merits serious concern. Some of this information comes from former patients and chronic patients who, in their lucid moments, have described their environmental needs. 

The last major portion of the PIMS is a telephone communication system by means of which the patient at a location remote from the medication programming system can have the IPIP reprogrammed with a new prescription or can have stored telemetry data in the IPIP read out and displayed by the medication programming system. 

An essential element of any medical program is informed patient consent prior to the performance of any test or procedure. Although informed consent is not specifically mentioned in the ACOEM components of occupational and environmental health programs, it is inherent in the ethical practice of medicine. The ACOEM Code of Ethical Conduct (adopted October 25,1993) states that physicians should relate honestly and ethically in all professional relationships. Also, the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics has issued guidance relative to patient consent, confidentiality of medical records, and communication of the results of tests and procedures (AOEC, 1987). 

Contrary to assertions in the popular press, when LSD is administered as part of a therapeutic medical program, irreversible psychotic changes and brain damage do not occur. Certain irresponsible statements that it does produce such adverse effects have not been supported by valid scientific evidence, Harold A. Abramson, M.D. (1967). 

Pharmacy Sections, Medical Program, Illinois Department of Public Aid, Springfield, IL, personal communication, November 1, 1991. 

Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army currently, Special Assistant for Medical Programs, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense,... 

Section 4.6 consolidates the requirements for medical support for chemical emergencies. It includes requirements for medical plarming and treatment for mass casualty situations immediate medical consultation and surveillance baseline physical examinations for hazardous materials response team members and hazardous materials specialists specifications for the treatment of emergency response employees and other detailed requirements for emergency response personnel and other employee medical programs and records. 

OSHA does not include the use of respirators under the medical program, but it is closely related since under the General Industry Standard 29 CFR 1910.134 the ability to use a respirator depends upon the employee s health. A basic requirement is the ability of the employee to pass a pulmonary function test, but the employee must not have any other health problems which would preclude the use of respirators if they are needed or required to protect the employee. A statement must be included in the CHP that the or ization has a respirator protection program which meets the requirements of the general industry standards. This program should be a written one and included in the employee s training. 

If an individual is working with an agent which is significantly infectious to humans, there appears to be little question that participation in a medical program is needed. Althoirgh the probability of contracting a disease increases with higher ejqrosure rates, once contracted, the characteristics of the disease are not dependent upon continued exposure or the initial level of exposure. 

B) records containing health insurance claims if maintained separately from the employer s medical program and its records, and not accessible to the employer by employee name or other direct personal identifier (e.g., social security number, payroll number, etc.), or... 

The employer shall provide a medical surveillance program for employees handlirrg hazardous materials. This program is very similar to medical programs required by other standards, but does have a few specific additional requirements. Employees are covered if (1) they may be exposed above the PELs or, if none exist, other published exposure levels, for 30 days or more per year,... 

---