The Reporter: June 1996, Vol.7, No.3
Employee Health Services Merge

In an effort to eliminate redundant services and offer employees the best in occupational health care, the employee health services for Columbia Health Sciences and Presbyterian Hospital will merge July 1. The new service will be called CPMC Occupational Health Service, says Dr. Robert Lewy, director of medical affairs for Presbyterian Hospital and medical director of the merged service. The new service will be located in a renovated space on the first floor of Harkness Pavilion and will offer a full range of health services, including preplacement and periodic exams, evaluation of work-related injuries, immunization and surveillance programs, and preventive health screenings.

Kathleen Crowley, physician assistant, is director of the hospital's employee health service and will manage the merged services. Physicians, occupational health nurses, clinical psychologists specializing in chemical dependency, a psychiatrist specializing in occupational issues, a physiatrist, and an orthopedic surgeon will provide care to employees at the new service site.

"The idea is to consolidate the two existing services," says Dr. Donald Kornfeld, P&S associate dean, who was involved in planning the merger. Reasons for the consolida- tion are twofold, he says-"because it's more efficient and because the hospital is set up to provide a very good quality employee health program."

Actually, says Dr. Lewy, the merger has been almost 10 years in the works. "The concept made sense, but we never had the space to make it happen. Now that space has become available, that's generated the impetus for this action. And besides," he adds, "there's no sense in duplicating services."

"Putting the resources of both institutions together will assure the best health services for everyone," says Dr. Thomas Morris, vice dean and senior associate vice president, who also was instrumental in the merger.

Ms. Crowley played an important role in planning the physical space for the new service. "It's designed for flow and efficiency," she says. "It has a very nice waiting area and a nursing station with individual work areas where nurses can offer patient counseling, immunizations, and care." The space will also have multiple examination rooms.

"It's also in an ideal geographical location," says Ms. Crowley. "It's centrally located on the campus."