Spring 2008 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Eric Wohlrab, M.D., consults with workers
at Lock Joint Tube (left) and the Northern
Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
GET TO WORK, MICHIANA!
Memorial Center for Occupational Health keeps workers on the job
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Leaders, managers, human resource
executives, anyone who helps
keep Michiana businesses up and
running, all know that employees
who are physically and emotionally
healthy make a strong and
productive organization.
From equipment issues to chemicals,
asbestos, needle sticks, burns, falls
and more, Memorial’s Center for
Occupational Health (COH) does
whatever it takes to help employers
protect workers in the workplace.
“Employees are the number one
resource companies have,” says
Occupational Medicine Specialist
Eric Wohlrab, M.D., MPH, M.S.,
FACOEM. “That’s why we really try
to limit the time employees are away.
We get them in and out of the door
as quickly and safely as possible.”
From a human standpoint there’s no
better way to tell your employees
you care than to provide the safest
work environment and the best
medical care possible. From a
business standpoint, an investment
in human capital returns $3 for
every $1 invested.
Along with treating common (and
not so common) workplace ailments,
Memorial’s COH also provides
preventive services to help keep
workers well in the first place.
“Our passion as a clinic is really
in prevention,” says Dr. Wohlrab.
“You can find anyone to put
stitches in, but we can also take
you through your workplace and
discuss ways you can protect the
health of your employees.”
One of the more innovative ways
Memorial’s COH fulfills this
promise is through its WorkSAFE
Ergonomics Program, which
provides on-site consultation and
evaluation to help reduce workplace
injuries caused by repetitive tasks.
Dr. Wohlrab adds, “We’re a clinic
without walls. If we stayed within
the confines of this building we’d
be missing 50 percent of what
occupational health is all about.”
With 2,500 clients, Memorial’s
COH has expanded to include
Memorial’s four Med-Point clinics
to better meet the needs of clients.
“Serious injuries such as significant
burns, falls from heights, much
of that happens after hours. The
after-hours service provided by
Med-Points helps us out tremendously,”
says Occupational Medicine
Specialist Melinda Dy, D.O., MPH,
ABFM, ACOEM.
While working autonomously,
occupational health physicians are
also required to adhere to federal,
state and local laws enforcing
workplace safety, all while working
with the employer and the employee.
“Each day is different. We could
have 20 people scheduled and end
up seeing 90 people that day,” adds
Dr. Dy. “It’s definitely a unique and
challenging work environment.”
Memorial Center for
Occupational Health
2301 N. Bendix, Suite 500
South Bend
574-647-1675
Memorial Center for Occupational
Health at LaPorte Medical Group
900 I Street, LaPorte
219-324-1960
www.memorialcoh.com
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