New service better addresses health issues

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:11:31 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has recently signed up with Occupational Injury Service (OIS), a new service for staff and faculty who experience a work related injury or illness.

The OIS program aligns with medical clinics that provide timely and appropriate medical care and disability management services specifically for
occupational injuries, with an emphasis on immediate (i.e., same day) communication with the employer to facilitate a safe return to work.

This service is specifically for non-emergent injuries/illnesses and provides the following benefits to staff/faculty:

• Same-day access to a physician with a background in occupational medicine and WCB-Alberta training (within 15 to 30 minutes of arrival)

• Same-day completion and submission of reports

• Identification and co-ordination of required medical services

• Earlier access to required medical and diagnostic tests, specifically MRI, CT and bone scans

• Earlier access to specialists and surgical procedures

• Completion of disability management reports that detail physical work capabilities and limitations to help determine return to work dates and tasks

• Worker and employer injury management education

• Development of a safe return-to-work plan

• Ongoing communication with the employee's family physician (OIS is a voluntary program). Staff/faculty will be given the option of attending an OIS clinic or other medical care if needed

If you experience a work related injury or illness, follow the incident/accident reporting process as usual. Report any work related injuries or illnesses to your direct supervisor, and complete the online campus incident/accident report form: http://www.uleth.ca/hum/archives/riskandsafetyservices/Services/report_form.html

If you require first aid, contact Security Services at 2345 or other appropriate responder in your area. If you require medical treatment, contact the wellness co-ordinator at 403-332-5217 and the OIS clinic of your choice will be contacted for an appointment (same day in most cases).

The OIS clinics are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If your injury occurs outside of these hours, you would need to access medical services through a walk-in clinic or emergency services at the hospital.
There are currently two service providers for OIS in Lethbridge:

• CBI Health – Dr. Gibb, Bigelow Fowler West; Dr. Ukrainitz, Bigelow Fowler South; Dr. Mellor

• LifeMark Health – Dr. Allen, Piedmont Clinic west; and/or Dynamic Physiotherapy

For those who work on the Calgary or Edmonton campuses, there are service providers for the program in both cities.

Calgary
• CBI Health – Midpark, Deerpark or Sunridge
• Wellpoint Health Corp
• Life Mark

Edmonton
• Medicentres Canada Inc – Westgrove, Ellerslie, Capilano, Castledowns or Millard Health

A few employees have had the opportunity to use this service already and the feedback has been very positive. Statistics show that the sooner someone is treated for an injury or illness, the sooner they are able to get back to work and participate in the other activities that make life enjoyable!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Suzanne McIntosh, wellness co-ordinator at 403-332-5217.

Selling public service messages

trevor.kenney — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:06:49 +0000

Like any type of marketing, social marketing (including work safety appeals and cause-related marketing) takes savvy and an intimate knowledge of one's audience.

Drs. Debra and Mike Basil, a husband-and-wife duo in the Faculty of Management at the U of L, are trying to understand what makes workplace safety appeals (like posters and TV ads) effective. They're currently analysing Canadian, American and Australian ads through a project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

"If we can understand a broader crosssection of people around the world, we are more likely to have identified some underlying human motivations and factors," says Mike, the study's principal investigator.

The project will also examine the usefulness of fear tactics (which are very common in Australian campaigns) and the impact of environmental factors on safety compliance.

"We believe that no matter how effective a workplace safety campaign poster may be, workers won't heed the warning if their direct supervisor doesn't emphasize the importance of safety," says Debra.

The SSHRC award is allowing the couple to continue their work at two Australian universities – the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Wollongong and Edith Cowan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. It's a great place to be, as Australia is at the forefront of the field, says Mike.

"I think Australians are very pragmatic and also willing to embrace new ideas and approaches," he explains. "I think Australians are giving social marketing a 'fair go' and have been pleased with what they have seen."

Working with Australian researchers will undoubtedly offer new perspectives on social marketing research, says Debra.

"Social norms campaigns are becoming popular here, and we will have the opportunity to assess the effectiveness of this approach compared with a more typical fear-type approach."

A former account representative of a Fortune 500 company, Debra is also working on a three-year, SSHRC-funded project assessing the usefulness of cause-related marketing for non-profit organizations.

While the two research projects are quite different, both are examining how programs can be structured more effectively to positively impact society, she says.

UNews - direct supervisor

New service better addresses health issues

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