La Crosse County, Wisconsin

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING

The Occupational Health Nurse for La Crosse County focuses on the health and well-being of La Crosse County employees.  The Occupational Health Nurse has a variety of programs designed for disease prevention, early diagnosis and referral, workplace safety, and ultimately decreasing employee sickness and disease.  The Occupational Health Nurse focuses on increasing employee productivity by offering medical intervention and counseling related to employee needs.  Various studies have shown that healthy people are happier and more productive at home and at work.  Since La Crosse County is self-insured, it is hoped that the Occupational Health Nurse can off-set the cost of high medical costs by offering programs to employees to increase their health and sense of wellness.

Programs Currently Offered:

1. New Employee Physicals

• Update immunizations

• Referral for abnormal readings

• Recommendations for work practices

• Red-flag problem areas and direct new employee to services

2. Bloodborne Pathogen Training

•   Disease prevention               
•   Workplace safety
•   Proper handling of potentially infectious materials                   
•   Injury prevention
  

3. Respiratory Protection Program

• Fit testing for proper fit of respirators

• Respirator Medical Evaluations

• Tuberculosis testing and education

4. Employee First-Aid

• Minor injuries at work handled at work

• Screening employees for need to seek medical attention

5. Immunization Clinics

• Influenza shot (disease prevention)

• Tetanus shot (disease prevention, update employee records)

• Tuberculosis test (disease prevention, start needed therapy if positive)

*Annual testing for specific departments and occupations

6. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

• Smoking cessation program

• Blood pressure clinics

• Job stress education

• Communicable disease education and   prevention

• Wellness

• One-on-one health education and counseling

• Other classes as requested by various departments

• Various lab tests for screening purposes

• Annual Health Fairs

• Monthly Health and Wellness Newsletter for County Employees

• Ergonomic Assessments/Education