Occupational Health Medicine in New Jersey

Our offices have a hearing booth and certified equipment for performing hearing tests. Trained medical technicians administer these tests. The booths meet OSHA/PEOSHA standards and can measure hearing loss changes at 5 DB increments with various frequencies (500, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 5K and 6K Hz). Test results are printed and interpreted by the medical provider, which is added to the patient's medical record and can then be compared to past and future tests to determine if a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred.

Our clinical staff consists of trained, certified breath alcohol technicians (BATs) who can perform breath alcohol testing. If we perform a screening on your employee and the initial individual screening requires confirmation, the test will automatically repeat. The designated employer representative (DER) is notified if the confirmation test is positive.

Testing includes lab work, vaccinations and post-exposure prophylaxis.

Our clinical staff performs urine drug screening and is trained in compliance with The Department of Transportation's (DOT) rule, 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 40. Our physicians are experts in analyzing drug screening results and are certified as medical review officers (MRO).

An electrocardiogram (EKG) screens the electrical activity of the heart. Our offices are equipped with state-of-the-art 12-lead EKG machines and are administered during physical examinations if required. After being calibrated by a trained technician or nurse, the EKG electronically performs the test and is equipped with auto-interpretation. One of our physicians will then interpret the EKG for the patient during the exam and send the findings to a cardiologist for verification and a final read.

We offer the fitness for duty examination, which helps determine if an employee can return to work in a condition fit for the proper, competent and safe performance of their duties throughout a scheduled shift. The physical and mental ability to perform the assigned tasks, interpersonal behavior and judgment are all assessed factors.

The hazardous materials (HAZMAT) examination is a requirement of OSHA for employees who have the potential to be exposed to chemicals and materials that can cause health problems. This examination is to be completed annually to ensure no changes to an employee's health that indicate dangerous exposure. Our board-certified physicians can review your employee's medical and work history, job description and level of exposure to close hazardous materials while also paying close attention to any prior exposure. Additionally, they can provide a physical, EKG and more.

We offer the hazardous waste and emergency response (HAZWOPER) examination required for employees who:

• Have been exposed to hazardous substances or health hazards above the permissible exposure levels (PELS) as per OSHA guidelines
• Wear a respirator for 30 days or more per year and become sick from possible overexposure
• Work on a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team

Position-specific physical examinations are offered for positions including but not limited to: Crossing Guards, Department of Public Works, EMS Professionals, Firefighters, Lifeguards and Police Officers.

We offer the post-offer physical examination (POPE) to help identify potential concerns after hiring a candidate. These concerns may include the inability to meet the physical and postural demands of the job, such as lifting, pushing, pulling and prolonged standing.

We provide pre-employment physical examinations designed to screen prospective employees for conditions that could potentially interfere with the ability to perform essential job functions safely. Modifications can be made based on the job description and any issues uncovered throughout the process. The examinations provided include:

• Medical history examination
• Comprehensive head-to-toe assessment
• Snellen vision test
• Ishihara color vision test, if indicated
• Examinations mandated by a regulatory agency will be performed according to the standards of that agency. Examples include:
• CDL medical examination as promulgated by the Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Respirator clearance examination as per OSHA/PEOSHA guidelines

Pulmonary function tests are performed routinely and may be required for respirator-fit testing medical clearance. Our trained medical technicians can administer the tests while our providers can interpret as they relate to the employee, respiratory exposure and the respirator.

OSHA/PEOSH standards require any employee that may need to wear a respirator at work to fill out a medical questionnaire. One of our providers can review the questionnaire and determine if your employee is clear to use a respirator without restrictions. The provider may request additional medical information, a physical exam, a pulmonary function test, etc., before determining the final disposition of your employee's ability to wear a respirator.

Screening for tuberculosis (TB) can be performed at the pre-placement examination through the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) if required. Patients receive the intradermal injection during the initial exam and are to have the test “read” by a trained reader within 48-72 hours. An alternative to the TST is QuantiFERON-TB (QFT). QFT is a blood test that requires only one patient visit. QFT is highly specific and sensitive: a positive result strongly predicts infection with M. tuberculosis. If interpreted as positive, a chest X-Ray is requested, and the patient receives a referral to a TB clinic or a personal medical doctor.

A urine dipstick screening and complete chemical urinalysis is available and performed onsite at our offices. This method is required for the DOT/CDL examinations.

Occupational Health Services are proactive medical services designed to keep your workforce healthy, safe, and productive. Unlike workers' compensation, which treats injuries after they happen, occupational health focuses on prevention, compliance, and ensuring employees are medically fit for their job duties. This includes services like pre-employment physicals, regulatory exams, and drug and alcohol testing.

We offer a variety of pre-employment and post-offer services to ensure a candidate is physically capable of performing the essential functions of a job. These include:

• Post-Offer Physicals: A baseline health assessment after a job offer is made.
• Fit-for-Duty Evaluations: A more specific assessment to determine if an employee can safely perform their job tasks.
• Return-to-Work Evaluations: An exam to clear an employee to safely return to their duties after an illness or non-work-related injury.