Last September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two pieces of COVID-19-related legislation. While both are important, perhaps the more critical immediate consideration for California employers is Assembly Bill 685, which is available for viewing on the California Legislative Information page here.

AB685 requires employers to take immediate action (within one day). They must notify co-employees and contractors working on-site when the employer is notified of a COVID-19 infection by a “qualifying individual”.

Compliance with the new California laws on COVID reporting will require that you:

• determining the infected period for the person at issue
• engaging in contact tracing to determine where the infected person was working
• reviewing data provided to confirm whether the person is in fact, infected. (or meets the parameters of the law)

After the triggering of a notification, employees and employers will face concerns over the spread of disease within the workplace. Mobile-Med is ready with on-site COVID-19 testing for employees. Additionally, we offer innovative COVID-19 surface testing. This checks communal surfaces within the workplace for the presence of potentially infectious viral matter.

This law will immediately impact California employers, so contact us today to understand more about how you can adopt best practices and prepare for new obligations. Learn how our on-site services can enable you to be adaptive and proactive in addressing the new challenges of the workplace. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

The post Are you complying with new California laws on COVID reporting? appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

As businesses are tasked with ensuring a healthy workplace during the pandemic, managers are often faced with potential workplace outbreaks. They must consider what types of testing, if any, are appropriate for their needs. If you have a group of employees fall ill with COVID, should you implement testing for other employees who were in close contact? If you do implement testing, what type should you use?

At Mobile-Med, we approach this issue like we approach all of our occupational health services. We break down the technical data into readily accessible and understandable options so that you can make an informed decision and keep your workplace safe.

Do you need to learn more about how various testing options impact your business operations and the health of your employees? If an employee wants to return to work with a clear antibody test, does that mean they don’t have COVID-19? We work with our client partners on issues like this every day.

Meet one of our Nurse Practitioners, Brianna, who can tell you a little bit about the difference between antibody testing and PCR testing:

Video Transcript:

Hi, my name is Brianna Singleton and I’m a

Nurse Practitioner at Mobile Med Work Health

Solutions.

There are two options for COVID-19 testing.

Viral Testing and Antibody Testing.

Viral Testing looks for a current infection while

Antibody Testing looks for a previous infection.

Viral Testing, also known as a PCR test looks 

for the virus that causes the COVID-19 infection.

This may be considered if people are 

experiencing symptoms,

Or have been in close contact within 6 feet for

At least 15 minutes with someone diagnosed

With COVID-19.

Antibody Testing is a blood test that looks for a

previous infection.

The finger prick test detects antibodies in

someone who has the infection at least one

to three weeks ago.

Some People may take longer to develop

antibodies. Other people may not develop them

at all.

Both the Viral Test and the Antibody Test are

both great testing solutions.

Please call us, or visit our website at mobile-med.com

so we can help you determine which

testing strategy is right for your organization.

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As the leaves change and the temperatures drop, COVID-19 and flu cases will inevitably rise. This is what the experts say regarding their outlook on the days ahead. We are an occupational health company that provides COVID-19 support and flu shots. Our medical teams are preparing for the colder winter months and the many health issues that come with it.  

With the steady increase in accessibility of COVID-19 vaccinations across more age groups and newer treatment options being updated, it can be a comforting thought to believe this virus is mostly behind us. Even President Biden has been quoted as saying that “the pandemic is over,” a statement recently made in a 60 Minutes interview. Many medical experts agree there is reason to believe we should keep a wary eye for a potential fall surge.       

Raj Rajnarayanan, Ph.D., assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., tells Fortune that other emerging subvariants have the potential to render current treatments and vaccines ineffective. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said earlier this month that the BA.2.75.2, is an even newer Omicron subvariant than the B.A. 4 and B.A. 5. He characterized the new variant as “suspicious.” It has the potential to develop into a variant that is a concern for the fall season. Some studies have shown earlier variants like BA.4 and B.A. 5 to be effectively neutralized by antiviral treatments like remdesivir and molnupiravir, even Paxlovid, but not so much this new variant BA.2.75.2, called by some unofficially, “Centaurus.” 

Another variant health officials are keeping a close eye on is BF.7, a subvariant of BA.5. This variant has emerged in some European countries and earned its own subcategory due to its rapid growth. The newer variant becomes news just as autumn arrives. Recent studies have shown that it’ll be most transmittable in the fall and winter. According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, 413 died from COVID in the U.S. as of mid-September 2022. Additionally, they reported 60,454 new cases.

So how do we prepare, you might be wondering? Our best preventive option is to follow medical advice on vaccines. We should also continue taking flu virus precautions in our daily lives. Larger employers should avoid making quick judgments to change testing protocols in anticipation of surges.  

To stay up to date on the most recent COVID cases, see the CDC COVID Data Tracker or sign up for the CDC’s most current COVID content updates. Contact us for more information on Work Health Solutions’ occupational health services.

The post Will There Be A COVID-19 Resurgence This Fall? appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

There are three FDA-approved vaccines available from Pfizer/ BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.

The best vaccine is the first vaccine offered to you.

Each vaccine is highly effective.

Efficacy is the chance that each vaccinated person is less likely to get sick each time they are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccines initiate an immune response without having to experience the illness or long-term effects caused by the virus. Although vaccines are not 100% perfect, they help reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and significantly reduce the chance of serious illness and death.

Some people may experience side effects after receiving a vaccine. 

Common side effects are pain, redness, swelling in the arm, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of the body. This is a normal sign that the vaccine is working as expected. A person is fully protected 2 weeks after receiving their last dose. Once fully vaccinated, people may be able to begin doing previously enjoyed activities, such as gathering indoors without masks with other fully vaccinated people.

COVID-19 vaccines do not cause the disease.

None of the FDA-approved vaccines use a live or weak version of the COVID-19 virus. Innovative and proven technology helps the body recognize key parts of the virus and build a strong immune response.

The COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA have been proven safe.

Vaccine safety has been observed in both clinical trials and among the millions of people globally who have already received a COVID-19 vaccine.

It is recommended that people who have had COVID-19 should also get vaccinated.

People develop antibodies through having the disease; however, there is evidence showing immunity through vaccination may last longer. Vaccinations may also provide better protection from more strains and mutations of the virus.

High vaccine rates in a population reduce the chance for the virus to mutate.

Mutations occur when there are plenty of opportunities for the virus to spread, replicate, and change forms. Many viral mutations go unnoticed. However, some mutations may cause the virus to spread more quickly, cause more harm, or impact different groups of people.

High vaccination rates increase herd immunity. 

Herd immunity is a form of community protection. If enough people in the community have antibodies to the virus, it will slow the spread of the virus, reduce strain on the healthcare system, and saves lives. Each person who is vaccinated protects a person who cannot get vaccinated.

Vaccines are one part of a comprehensive public health response to COVID-19. Social distancing, hand-washing, avoiding crowds, ventilation, mask-wearing, testing, tracing, and isolation remain critical to ending the pandemic. As more people get vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue providing more guidelines on how we can move towards re-opening the economy and gathering more safely.

The post COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

Occupational Health Professionals are More Than Just Injury Care.

At Work Health Solutions, we believe that occupational health requires more than just treating injuries.  With our Healthy Worker Pyramid^SM , we look at the full scope of challenges impacting your workplace, including challenges coming from outside your premises.  We even look at global and regional issues that may impact your workplace.  So what can we learn from India?

A Comparison of COVID Experience in India and the US.

India is roughly 1/3 the size of the US but has a population of roughly 1 billion people larger than the US.  The US has roughly 330M people, to India’s 1.32B.  In other words, the population density of India is significantly higher.  There are more people packed more closely together.  Increases in population density make it easier for COVID to spread.

If you review COVID infection rates in the US and India, both countries experienced sharp spikes in 2020, leading to significant rates of infection and death.  Both countries responded with restrictions—business closures, travel restrictions, mask requirements, and related rules.  Both countries experienced reductions in infection rates and death as a direct result of those rules.  What happened, and when?

Early Indian Interventions Were Effective.

In India, infection rates peaked at roughly 100,000 new cases per week in September, overwhelming their occupational health professionals.  After that, their restrictions were effective in stemming the flow of infections.  India’s early response to COVID-19 was even more effective than the US response.  However, with the significant reductions in infections, India rolled back many of its restrictions towards the start of 2021.  Public adherence to COVID restrictions dropped sharply.  India does not have widespread COVID vaccination, and currently, only 3.4% of the population is fully vaccinated.

But Indian COVID Regulations Were Rolled Back too Soon.

Starting in February, Indian COVID-19 infection rates started to rise.  By March, they were on a stratospheric trajectory, and current infection rates are nearly 400,000 new cases per week.  The news is filled with stories of mass funeral pyres to handle the bodies of COVID victims.  In other words, when the COVID restrictions stopped being enforced and followed, infection and death rates skyrocketed.  While India has a broad healthcare system, it does not have the capacity to deal with current infection rates, and the death rates are soaring.

The US was not as Effective Early on.

The US was not as effective at implementing immediate, nationwide restrictions in response to COVID-19.  When India peaked at roughly 100,000 cases per week in August and then had a decline in infections, the US stayed on a low boil from the Spring of 2020 until November 2020.  In November, infection rates in the US spiked and continued on a generally upward trajectory until December 2020, when rates peaked at 250,000 infections per week.  Nationwide, the US started to be relatively effective in stemming the flow of infections.

At that point, the US had relatively consistent COVID restrictions across the country, and infection rates dropped sharply.  That timing corresponded with the start of mass-vaccination programs in the US.  At present, the US has a full vaccination rate that is fully ten times greater than India’s.  The trend of COVID-19 infections in the US is on a downward/stable trajectory.  States have started to relax COVID-related rules.

Interestingly, there are a few states in the US that are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and that are implementing more restrictive COVID-19 rules.

What can occupational health professionals learn here?

Workplaces Must Remain COVID-conscious, Even as Infection Rates Drop.

There is a strong correlation between 1) implementing and adhering to COVID-19 regulations and 2) reducing COVID-19 infection rates.  When we think COVID-19 is going away and we relax all of the restrictions, COVID-19 will have a resurgence (until we have an incredibly strong vaccination program in place).

As we think about workplace responses to COVID-19, it is critical that occupational health professionals maintain vigilance.  Keep social distancing, mask-wearing, and sanitization practices in place.  They are the key to maintaining a healthy workforce while vaccination programs are ongoing.  We are seeing great success in our fight against the pandemic, but we are not yet at a stage where we can declare victory and stop fighting.

Contact us today, to find out more about effective workplace policies to address COVID-19 and to find more ways to keep your workforce safe, healthy, and productive.

The post What Occupational Health Professionals can Learn from India appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

What can we learn from COVID-19?

In response to the pandemic, we all mobilized.  We started wearing masks, sanitizing surfaces, and using plastic barriers at our counters.  We implemented COVID response protocols, we tested, and we’re vaccinating.  Work Health Solutions has been a leader in the COVID-19 response, providing solutions to state and local governments, airports and transit facilities, amusement parks, Fortune 500 companies, and a host of employers, large and small.  We are providing those services in the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe.  Our COVID-19 services run the gamut, including screening, testing, policy recommendations, vaccination programs, and patient care.  In response to what we all have identified as a pandemic, employers have shown an incredible ability to marshal resources to address the occupational health threat that is COVID-19.

Is there another pandemic in your workplace?

What if we told you that your workplace has another pandemic in it?  What if COVID-19 is not the only threat to your employee’s health and safety?

Sounds ridiculous, no?  What other kinds of workplace pandemics could you possibly have?  Imagine the scope of your “world” as the scope of your workplace.  What other injuries and illnesses have reached pandemic levels?  In some workplaces, ergonomics issues and related injuries are a pandemic.  It may be In other workplaces, cardiovascular issues have reached pandemic levels.  In yet other workplaces, lifting injuries or repetitive strain injuries are a pandemic.  Certainly, these aren’t infectious diseases.  But what if they’re occurring with enough frequency in the workplace that you are losing productivity and incurring injuries?  They can represent just as much of a threat to your employees’ safety as an infectious disease.

We’ve shown we can respond to occupational health threats in the workplace.  Are you doing enough to know what your occupational health threats really are?

Making Data-Driven Decisions About Occupational Health

In one example from our team, a new client had an employee suffer a workplace injury while operating a piece of specialized equipment.  The equipment was old and had very poor ergonomics, but it was very costly to replace, so it remained in use.  When the injury occurred, our team evaluated the injury.  We then discussed the equipment with the on-site environmental health and safety (EHS) team.  When the EHS team looked back at past injuries, they found that this one piece of equipment had generated hundreds of thousands of dollars of injuries.  These injuries represented a huge percentage of the workplace’s OSHA recordable incidents.

Our team was able to work with the employer’s EHS team to propose a replacement for the equipment.  The employer was able to identify that by incurring the cost of replacing the equipment, they could avoid a substantial number of injuries each year.  Avoiding those injuries and their expense would more than pay for the costs of the new, more ergonomic machine.  The employer realized that their workplace pandemic was an old, dangerous machine.  Their data-driven decision to replace it was founded on our review of their recordable injuries.  That employer saved money, avoided injuries, and avoided lost productivity.  It was also widely praised by employees who appreciated having a newer, safer, and more comfortable machine to use.

Leverage Data and Technology to Enable Better Occupational Healthcare 

When you study your workplace illnesses and injuries and the causes of employee lost time from all sources, you can identify where your workplace pandemics exist.  A core component of our services is working to generate clear, accurate records.  We leverage our world-class IT and electronic health record system.  Our clients can view key performance indicators and understand their return on investment in occupational health.  They can also view the objective data showing where their workplace pandemics exist.  We give our clients the tools to intervene and create a safer workplace.

If you could go back a year in time and have an earlier, more informed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, would you?  What if you’re missing the opportunity for early intervention in the next workplace pandemic?  Contact us today to find out more about our services and learn how you can create a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace.

The post Data-Driven Decisions and Healthcare: Lessons from COVID-19 appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

Develop A Strategy

As with anything in business, strategy is needed. Keeping your workplace clean and your employees healthy is no exception! Take time to develop a strategy to help conquer germs in the workplace. Consider the following steps.

Plan

The first step in developing a strategy is to make a plan. Take time to identify which areas need to be cleaned. Not every space needs as much attention. Give extra caution to high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces. Rarely used areas, like storage closets, may not need to be cleaned as often. 

Planning also involves determining what resources will be needed. Once you’ve taken note of all the sinks, doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc., that need to be cleaned, take stock of which products you need to get the job done. Cleaning products and PPE will be necessary to ensure the safety of your team.

Implement

Once you’ve developed a strategy to keep your company clean during COVID, you’ll need to implement it. Remember, no matter how good your plan is, it won’t happen on its own. Prioritize times for cleaning and make sure that the necessary work is done.

Clean surfaces with soap and water, then disinfect them. Also, ensure that anyone involved in cleaning always wears the appropriate protective clothing/masks while dealing with cleaners. Some cleaners, such as bleach, contain potentially harmful chemicals which can be dangerous if inhaled. 

Maintain

Cleaning isn’t a “one-and-done” activity. It requires ongoing maintenance. Items get dirty over time, and germs can quickly cover surfaces. Stay caught up with your cleaning routine and continue to make it a priority, adjusting as needed. Pay particular attention when employees are returning from a holiday. 

To stay safe from COVID and to ease the minds of your employees, you should disinfect frequently touched surfaces once or twice a day. Continue to follow safe practices such as social distancing and personal hygiene as well.

Keep The Workspace Clean

Office spaces are not the only businesses to worry about. Retail stores and other businesses exposed to the general public are at a higher risk of spreading COVID. Here are a few practical tips for keeping these spaces clean.

• Clean and disinfect high-touch areas several times daily, including doorknobs, push bars, handles, light switches, carts/baskets, and touchscreens.
• Deep clean areas weekly utilizing proper PPE.
• Offer hand sanitizer and masks at the entrance of the building to encourage customers to stay safe. 
• Provide personal hand sanitizer for cashiers or other employees who can’t leave their workstations throughout the day.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it is a great starting point for keeping you and your company clean during COVID. Continue to follow safe practices and encourage others to do the same. 

How Can We Help?

Work Health Solutions offers comprehensive healthcare solutions for your medical needs. Our qualified team treats patients and employers alike and always provides top-quality service. Our quality service is backed by years of experience working with academic and research institutions, corporate healthcare, Fortune 25 companies, small governments, and local businesses. Reach out today with any questions you may have about how we can assist you!

The post Keeping Your Company Clean During COVID appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

COVID-19 Vaccines

There are three FDA-approved vaccines available from Pfizer/ BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.

Some say that the first vaccine offered is the best one.

Each vaccine is highly effective.

Efficacy is the chance that each vaccinated person is less likely to get sick after each exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccines initiate an immune response without having to experience the illness or long-term effects caused by the virus. Although vaccines are not 100% perfect, they help reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and significantly reduce the chance of serious illness and death.

Some people may experience side effects after receiving a vaccine.

Common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling in the arm, and tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea throughout the rest of the body. This is a normal sign that the vaccine is working as expected. Additionally, full protection takes place 2 weeks after their last dose. Once fully vaccinated, people may be able to begin doing previously enjoyed activities, such as gathering indoors without masks with other fully vaccinated people.

COVID-19 vaccines do not cause the disease.

Subsequently, no FDA-approved vaccines use a live or weak version of the COVID-19 virus. Innovative and proven technology helps the body recognize key parts of the virus and build a strong immune response.

The FDA has authorized several COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccine safety has been observed in both clinical trials and among the millions of people globally who have already received a COVID-19 vaccine.

It is recommended that you get the vaccine regardless of whether or not you had COVID-19.

People develop antibodies through the disease. However, there is evidence showing immunity through vaccination may last longer. Vaccinations may also provide better protection from more strains and mutations of the virus.

High vaccine rates in a population reduce the chance for the virus to mutate.

Mutations occur when there are plenty of opportunities for the virus to spread, replicate, and change forms. Many viral mutations go unnoticed. However, some mutations may cause the virus to spread more quickly, cause more harm, or impact different groups of people.

High vaccination rates increase herd immunity. 

Herd immunity is a form of community protection. If enough people in the community have antibodies to the virus, it will slow the spread of the virus, reduce strain on the healthcare system, and saves lives. By getting the vaccine, you can help protect the unvaccinated.  

Furthermore, Vaccines are one part of the comprehensive public health response to COVID-19. Social distancing, hand-washing, avoiding crowds, ventilation, mask-wearing, testing, tracing, and isolation remain critical to ending the pandemic. As more vaccinations take place, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue providing more guidelines on how we can move towards re-opening the economy and gathering more safely.

The post COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Protection appeared first on Work Health Solutions.

Sanitation

Due to the contagious nature of COVID, it’s necessary to sanitize your business regularly. Set a cleaning schedule with clear guidelines and stick to it. Employees will feel better seeing management taking an active role in their safety. Consider the following.

• Regularly disinfect high-touch areas such as doorknobs, push bars, handles, light switches, carts/baskets, and touchscreens.
• Deep clean common areas at least once a week while utilizing proper PPE.
• Provide hand sanitizer and masks at the entrance of the building to encourage customers and employees to stay safe. 
• Provide personal hand sanitizer for any employees who can’t leave their workstations throughout the day.

Sanitation is an important part of COVID prevention. Make sure that, as a business manager, you’re doing everything within your power to keep your company germ-free. This will help limit employees’ risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Employee Responsibility

No matter how much you sanitize your company, you can’t be safe for your employees. They need to take some level of responsibility in protecting themselves. Encourage your team to take proper precautions against COVID-19 by wearing their masks, social distancing, and keeping their hands clean. 

To help encourage and enforce proper care, consider implementing a contest or incentive program. This not only helps employees adhere to recommended guidelines but also helps keep morale up. 

Monitoring Your Company

While you can keep the surfaces of your company sanitized and you can encourage employees to stay safe, you still need to monitor your team on some level. One of the biggest downsides of running a business is dealing with employees who don’t want to follow rules. 

Instead of blindly trusting your team to be safe and do what’s right, schedule times to do a walkthrough of the company and visually assess their level of safety. Penalize employees who aren’t wearing masks correctly or social distancing when possible. While this may result in complaints, it is solely for the benefit and protection of your employees. 

Another practical way of monitoring your employees is to have a temperature check station at the front door. When employees show up for their shift, their temperature can be taken, and they can be asked about any symptoms they may be showing. Then, at the discretion of management, they can be sent for testing or home to rest. 

While many practices are limiting employees’ risk of exposure to COVID-19, it essentially boils down to awareness and responsibility. Understand and communicate with your employees the dangers and risks of COVID, and encourage them to take personal responsibility to stay safe. 

How Can We Help?

Work Health Solutions offers comprehensive healthcare solutions for your medical needs. Our qualified team treats patients and employers alike and always provides top-quality service. We back our quality service with years of experience working with academic and research institutions, corporate healthcare, Fortune 25 companies, small governments, and local businesses. Reach out today with any questions you may have about how we can assist you!

The post Limiting Employees’ Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 appeared first on Work Health Solutions.