Occupational health care services

The occupational health care unit at Salo Health Centre provides occupational health care services for workplaces and entrepreneurs located in the health centre area.
Our occupational health station is responsible for 580 workplaces and approximately 7,600 employees. Services are also provided for 640 farmers and other independent entrepreneurs, and medical services for 135 workplaces and about 5,300 employees.

Content of occupational health care

Statutory occupational health care includes assessing the health conditions at the workplace as required, providing information about health risks and guidance in avoiding them, initial examinations and periodic examinations in work that is hazardous to the health, and monitoring of injured employees and their referral to rehabilitation or treatment. If necessary, occupational health care also provides guidance in maintaining first aid preparedness. Companies can purchase general practitioner-level health care services for their employees.

Staff

The occupational health station (Salo, Halikko, Perniö) employs five occupational health physicians, ten occupational health care nurses, two occupational physiotherapists, two occupational psychologists, four reception nurses and an office secretary. The services of a nutrition therapist and diabetes nurse are also available at our health centre. We work closely with the rehabilitation unit and physiatrist at the health centre. Examination and treatment services are purchased from the private health care sector if necessary.

Training

Two of our occupational health station doctors are specialists in occupational health care and one is currently specialising in the same discipline. Our occupational health station has been approved as a training location for the University of Turku´s specialist training.
Our occupational health care nurses and physiotherapists have received additional training in occupational health care, and all of our reception nurses have completed the occupational health care training designed for them. Our staff receives internal training on a monthly basis. The physicians take part in training meetings at the health centre every second week. Close co-operation with employees at other health centres and Salo Regional Hospital ensures a functional examination and treatment network.

Organisation

Occupational health care operates as an independent service unit within the health centre organisation.

IT system

Occupational health care has a functional information processing system with Internet connections and a health reporting system (EFFICA). The system ensures that the occupational health station has immediate access to the results of examinations and tests performed in the health centre and first aid clinic. Laboratory tests are purchased from the TYKSLAB and x-ray services mainly from the Salo branch of the Southwest Finland medical imaging unit. Some laboratory tests and sinus ultrasounds are also performed at the occupational health station. The IT system provides the opportunity to monitor sick leave granted at the health centre and occupational health station. Monitoring reporting is conducted in the manner agreed with the employer and maintains the confidentiality of information stored at the health station.

Activities to maintain working ability

Diverse activities and group guidance aimed at maintaining working ability are arranged at workplaces in a jointly planned manner. Activities to maintain working ability utilise other health centre specialists as expert advisers. The health station works with the local Kela office to arrange early rehabilitation. Occupational health care has worked with Salo´s Sports Services department for years to activate employees in their physical and sports activities.

Opening hours

The Occupational Health Station is open Mon-Thu, 7 am-4 pm and Fri, 7 am-3 pm. During busy periods, the occupational health station observes extended hours. The public health nurse receives acute patients every morning from 7 am-11 am without an appointment and Monday noon-3 pm by appointment. Appointments with a doctor have to be booked in advance. Urgent cases are treated on a same-day basis according to the severity of the illness, however; an appointment should also be made by phone in these cases.

Prices

Invoicing is carried out on a monthly basis according to the fee rates. An employee-specific annual fee is also charged, usually during the spring. Applications to Kela for compensation for paid fees are submitted at the end of the financial period. Kela compensation covers 60% of the cost of preventive activities and 50% of the cost of necessary and reasonable medical treatment.

Quality system

Salo Health Centre observes the principle of continuous quality monitoring and development work. As a result of this work, Qualitor Oy granted the health centre a three-year quality recognition certificate on 22 November 2002, which is based on a quality evaluation performed with the SHQS (Social and Health Quality Service) programme. The certificate was renewed on 21 December 2006.

Further information

Further information is available from Chief Physician Pentti Haavisto, Occupational Health Care Unit Supervisor,
tel. (02) 7723 779 or (02) 7723 767 and Head of Nursing Outi Hakala, tel. (02) 7723 776.
We would be pleased to present our occupational health care unit and discuss the arrangement of occupational health care in more detail.