HealthWorks Celebrates 30 Years of Partnering with Businesses to Keep Employees Safe

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

The year 1990 was when the world saw the reunification of Germany, “Ghost” was the top-grossing movie in the U.S. and a British computer scientist created the first web server and foundation for the World Wide Web.

It was also the year Thompson Health established an occupational medicine program to provide workplace health services to employers throughout the Finger Lakes region, helping them keep employees safe as well as helping them meet regulatory and insurance requirements while remaining productive.

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, HealthWorks is going strong, with two of its two founding physicians – Dr. David R. Carlson and Dr. John Manfred – still leading the way. Dr. Carlson, the
medical director of the program, said the past three decades have given much reason to celebrate.

“I am both privileged and proud to have worked with Dr. Manfred and all the wonderful members of the HealthWorks team helping us to keep people safe at work,” he said.

Services are customized to meet a business’s specific needs but can include:

• Pre-employment physicals, drug and alcohol screening
• Monitoring of employees for health effects of asbestos, silica, lead, chromium, and noise used in manufacturing processes
• Wellness programs
• Ergonomic job site analysis
• Physical therapy for injured workers
• Industrial rehabilitation

As needed, training is offered as well. Last year, for example, HealthWorks provided several information sessions on the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) rules and regulations for commercial driver’s license (CDL) employers and drivers.

HealthWorks is located at the Thompson Medical Center on Corporate Drive in Farmington, and services can be on-site or off- site, depending on a client’s needs. There is also on-call access, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

“Occupational medicine continues to be an exciting field as new workplace hazards present themselves all the time,” Dr. Carlson said, noting that the risk of COVID-19 in healthcare workers is just one of the latest examples.

With greater emphasis on safety in recent years, accidents happen less often than in the past, but Dr. Carlson said when they do happen, injured workers often receive care through HealthWorks because many primary care physicians refrain from treating work injuries.

David Heckman, human resources manager for the Berry Global location in Macedon, said Berry Global and its predecessor companies in plastic packaging have partnered with HealthWorks for many years. “We truly appreciate all Dr. Carlson and his staff have done for us. From pre-employment physicals to ‘fit for duty’ and ‘return to work’ exams, HealthWorks has always been there to help our employees work safely and answer any questions we may have,” he said.

Another longtime client is Leonard’s Express, a Farmington based transportation provider that moves over 15,000 shipments per month.

“I have worked with Thompson Health and HealthWorks for over 15 years. The administration staff and medical professionals are extremely knowledgeable in their fields. Together, we work through a plethora of federal changes as it relates to our truck drivers, and the HealthWorks team always stays ahead of the game,” said Ronald Scofero, Sr., director of risk control for Leonard’s Express. “We have built a professional relationship over the years that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. They’re always there when we need them, day or night. In my 30 years in the  safety and risk control field, I feel confident in saying they are at the top of the industry.”

For more information about occupational medicine services offered through Thompson Health, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com/HealthWorks