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Benefis Occupational Health Services

Benefis Occupational Health professionals provide employers with everything you need to ensure that your workplace meets all regulatory requirements, including Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing.

Benefis Occupational Health works diligently to help you keep your employees safe, well, and productive. We know each business is different, and we will collaborate with you to design programs that fit your company’s needs. We are dedicated to maintaining your profile in a manner that is specific to your requests.

We understand that you are busy and that occupational health has many variables. Our experts and personalized services can help you save time and money by customizing your protocols in our system. This will ensure that you receive the correct information, delivered to the right place after your employees visit.

Benefits also include:

  • Fully equipped facility that includes radiology and laboratory services
  • Clinic with a provider who is available during all hours of operation
  • Direct access to orthopedic consults (Occupational Health is embedded in Orthopedics)
  • Access to Benefis specialty services, such as stress tests, audiology services, and physical and occupational therapy
  • Dedicated team with extensive licensed staff
  • Multiple DOT-certified providers
  • Ability to bring on-site services to you
  • Prompt communications between the employer and our providers
  • Coordination with Worker’s Compensation care
  • Strong stay-at-work and return-to-work philosophy
  • Faster and more cost-effective alternative to the hospital Emergency Department

Our Services

At one central location, you have access to a comprehensive suite of services. We provide the following:

Employment Physicals and Screenings

Ensure your employees are safely able to meet the regulatory requirement for employment with our customizable physical examinations.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that all drivers of commercial motor vehicles be examined by a certified medical examiner (CME). This is to ensure that they are healthy enough to perform this demanding job safely. Our providers administer this exam in accordance with DOT guidelines and requirements.

DOT Exam Requirements Checklist

To help us complete your physical in a timely manner, please bring with you any of the following items that are applicable to your health history, in addition to all medications your are currently taking. If you do no have the required information, we will not be able to certify you right away and you will need to bring back this information within the time frame given with your temporary card.

REMINDER: DO NOT URINATE PRIOR TO COMING FOR THE DOT EXAM, AS URINE TEST IS REQUIRED

Vision Correction
  • Pair of glasses or contacts
  • If you are blind in one eye (monocular vision), you must bring a Federal Vision Exemption paper
Hearing Aids
  • Current hearing test with hearing aids from your audiologist to your exam
Heart, MI, Stents, Angioplasty/Angina
  • Cardiology consult
  • Cardiologist statement clearing you to operate a commercial motor vehicle from a cardiac perspective
  • Copy of most recent exercise stress test results
  • Copy of echocardiogram
Stroke, Seizure, Traumatic Brain Injury, TIA
  • Neurology consult
  • Neurologist statement clearing you to operate a commercial motor vehicle from a neurologic perspective
Diabetes
  • Physician letter, with the following addressed:
    • HgA1c, recent as of six months
    • Physician statement documenting diabetes control and complications
  • All prescribed diabetes medication(s)
  • Insulin waiver (if applicable)
Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD, Panic Disorder
  • Physician note stating your medication(s) are tolerated with no daytime sleepiness and that you are safe to operate a commercial motor vehicle*
Blood Pressure (borderline or difficult)
  • Physician note indicating you are being treated to control your blood pressure, with a reading of 140/90 or less
  • List of medication(s) and dosages
Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders**
  • Sleep specialist consult
  • Copy of sleep study
Coumadin, Warfarin
  • Copy of most recent INR test results
Medications with Risk of Sedation
  • Physician note stating*
    • List of medication(s) and dosages
    • How long you have been on medication(s)
    • Tolerate medication(s) with no daytime sleepiness
    • That you are safe to operate a commercial motor vehicle

*There are instances where we are unable to issue a medical certificate pending the prescribed medication(s).
**If you use a CPAP machine, we will need to see usage statistics for ≥ last 30 days. This can be obtained from the company that manages the CPAP machine. Compliance means use of greater than 4 hours/night, 70% of the time.

Different positions require different abilities. We customize pre-employment physicals according to the physical demands of your business and work environment. Depending on your needs, these may include X-rays, lab tests, drug screens, hearing screens, and medical provider evaluations.

If your employees wear respirators, ensure they use them safely with our pre-employment and ongoing respiratory physicals available on-site or off. We’ll also fit employees with respirators using the qualitative or quantitative method.

  • OSHA Respiratory Questionnaire
  • Pulmonary function tests
  • Quantitative fit testing
  • Qualitative fit testing

Safeguard the health of employees who work near hazardous materials. Completed during the pre-employment process and periodically through employment, our hazmat physical is customized to meet the specific requirements of the job.

Jobs in crane operation require employees to be in good health and physical condition. Our crane exams meet the Montana State Crane requirements to include vison with depth perception and urinalysis.

These can be tailored to your specific needs. Please make sure your prospective employee is healthy and promotes workforce safety.

Our exams meet regulatory requirements and are cost-effective for you. Additional exams include:

  • Annual physicals
  • Asbestos physicals
  • Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals
  • Pre-placement exams
  • Hazmat exams
  • Return-to-work exam
  • Silica exams
  • Respiratory clearance

 

Job Site Analysis

Our first step is to evaluate your workplace environment. We’ll then establish physical requirements for each of your employees and positions. We use the results to develop job descriptions and determine the physical tests needed for new employees.

Ergonomic testing

An ergonomically correct workspace can decrease the risk of injury, reduce fatigue, and improve employee satisfaction and productivity. We’ll evaluate your workspaces and recommend adjustments to maximize ergonomic comfort.

Hearing conservation

Is noise a concern in your workplace? Monitor the impact of work-induced noise on your employees’ hearing with our comprehensive hearing test. We establish baseline results by testing hearing in a certified soundproof booth. These metrics are compared to annual testing results to measure the extent of any hearing impairment. On-site hearing conservation testing is available if your facility meets specific regulations.

 

Drug and Alcohol Testing

We provide certified Department of Transportation (DOT) testing in accordance with DOT guidelines and requirements. We also offer non-DOT testing and screening.

Our certified collectors are DOT-certified. Drug and alcohol testing is a legal process that requires collectors to obtain samples consistently, within the protocol, each time. The collector instructs employees how to accomplish the test, inspects the employee-provided specimen, and then completes the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form.

These screenings can be invalidated during legal proceedings if this process is not followed precisely. An invalid screening means your company will not be able to take action against an employee who used drugs or alcohol in the workplace. Using a certified collector ensures that the correct processes are followed.

We also perform hair testing and oral fluid testing.

Urine drug screens (UDS)

Our comprehensive drug testing program includes pre-employment, post-accident, random, and reasonable suspicion urine drug screens, as well as 24-hour on-call services. We adhere to all federal regulations and can test on-site if your facility meets specific regulations.

Breath alcohol testing (BAT)

We provide comprehensive alcohol testing for pre-employment, post-accident, random, and reasonable suspicion screenings with 24-hour on-call services available. Testing can be performed on-site if your facility meets specific regulations.

 

Screenings

We provide an extensive list of screenings, including:

Vision screening

A vision screening is a brief exam that looks for potential vision problems and eye disorders.

Hearing conservation (audiology tests)

These are provided by Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC)-certified staff.

Respiratory Protection Program screening

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require that workers who wear respirators and are exposed to workplace respirator hazards participate in a respiratory protection program.

Respiratory clearance testing

This determines a worker’s ability to wear respiratory protection safely. It also determines the employer’s compliance with OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.134). These exams include annual respiratory questionnaires, baseline and annual exams, and pulmonary function tests. Our staff is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified to perform these tests.

Respirator fit testing

These tests determine if a respirator fits properly by getting a seal around the face to avoid leaks of contaminated air into the mask. We will show your employees the proper way to wear the mask and educate on mask hygiene. Our team can do qualitative (with smoke as the irritant) or quantitative fit testing.

Pulmonary function tests (spirometry)

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), is the cornerstone of occupational respiratory evaluation programs. It is used to evaluate worker respiratory health in medical surveillance programs and to screen workers for their ability to perform certain tasks. Spirometry results can play a central role in decisions about worker job assignments and personal protective equipment, and in the assessment of exposure-related health effects.

Pulmonary function tests are noninvasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange. There are 2 types of disorders that cause problems with air moving in and out of the lungs:

  • Obstructive. This is when air has trouble flowing out of the lungs due to airway resistance. This causes a decreased flow of air.
  • Restrictive. This is when the lung tissue and/or chest muscles can’t expand enough. This creates problems with air flow, mostly due to lower lung volumes.

In the occupational health setting, spirometry plays a critical role in the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of workplace related lung disease.

Radiology (X-rays)

Lab tests

FIT for DUTY or post-offer testing

We ensure your new hires can physically perform the essential functions of the jobs in your company. We do this by measuring the physical demands of each job or job class, and then test the prospective employee on their ability to perform them.

Return-to-work screening

After an employee is injured, we can use return-to-work screening to ensure they are physically prepared to return to work. This screening also determines if your employee can complete the demands required of their position.

The components of post-offer and return-to-work tests include:

  • Job function analysis: This is an on-site objective measurement of job tasks.
  • Functional job description: This includes data from the job function analysis written into a functional job description that defines the job’s demands.
  • Physical demand test: This is developed from the functional job description and analysis that is used for post-offer or post-injury screening. It ensures that the employee’s physical capabilities match the job requirements.

The benefits of these screenings include ensuring that your new employees can safely perform the essential functions of their jobs. They also reduce medical and lost-time claims.

 

Education

Reasonable Suspicion Education

Employers must be aware of drug abuse and alcoholism in the workplace. Benefis offers Reasonable Suspicion Training to help supervisors learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of drug abuse and alcoholism. It is simple and convenient, and we can offer it on-site at your business.

Community First Aid, CPR, AED

We can help your employees know what to do in case of an emergency. We provide certification through the American Heart Association to educate your employees in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrialltor (AED).

Additional Resources

Benefis has many resources to assist with your safety program. If you have a particular topic you would like us to do a presentation on, please reach out to us. If we are unable to provide it through our Occupational Health Department, we will find someone within our health system to educate your employees.

 

Injury Prevention and Management

Our injury prevention and management expertise is what you want for your employees. Our goal is to keep your employees working safely, and we help you manage each situation safely and properly through a philosophy that includes:

  • A strong return-to-work with light duty, if appropriate
  • Walk-In or Emergency Department services outside clinic hours for emergencies
  • Our case manager, who will assist in filing and coordinating of your Worker’s Compensation.

Contact Us

If you have questions, or would like to speak to someone about our Occupational Health Services, please call (406) 731-8905 or (406) 455-3650.