WOHA News
11.11
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Scott, Dr. Chase, and the WOHA supporting staff have all recently renewed their MROCC (Medical Review Officer Certification Council) certifications! Our physicians have been continuously certified by MROCC since its inception.
05.11
As the Mississippi river region begins to recover from this season's historic flooding and deadly tornadoes continue to ravage the South and Midwest, WOHA plays a crucial role in the deployment of response teams to the affected areas. Our thoughts go out to all of those touched by these natural disasters. (Photo: Jeff Robertson/AP)
WOHA congratulates the students of our biannual Hearing Conservation Course! Our Spring class provided both full and recertificaion, and was held at WOHA May 17-19. This cohort reaped the benefits of some fantastic new speakers, all experts in their field! If you couldn't make it, please contact Anita Taylor (ataylor@woha.com) to sign up for our next class this Fall.
03.11
WOHA welcomes the atendees of the 2011 American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) to our nation's capitol! As a DC community leader for 30 years, WOHA is thrilled by the opportunity to host our associates in our home town. Please accept our open invitaion to a free celebration of preventative health at the Grand Hyatt Washington March 26th, from 7-9 pm. Open bar, light fare, music, prizes, and general festivities are included! For additional information, contact Patti Munoz at 202-463-6698.
12.10
The United States Surgeon General issued its 30th report on the dangers of smoking, this Thursday, December 9th. Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing 443,000 deaths annually. Highlights from the report include the following:
- There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Even low levels of exposure, including second hand smoke, are dangerous.
- There is no safe cigarette. All cigarettes are designed for addiction.
- Damage from smoking is immediate. More smoking means more damage.
Read the entire report here. Other quality sources regarding the detrimental health effects of smoking are http://www.smokefree.gov and http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm.
It's not too late for the flu shot! WOHA still has ample seasonal influenza vaccine and can provide shots here in our clinic or on-site at your workplace. The Flu commonly peaks in January or February but can last through May. It takes 2-4 weeks to build the antibodies necessary for protection post vaccination. This year's vaccine includes H1N1 and preliminary studies suggest that the selected strains may be a good match to those circulating this season. Visit our flu preparedness page for more information.
11.10
WOHA now offers CT lung scans. In November, a large government study found that annual scans of former and current heavy smokers reduced their risk of death by lung cancer by 20%. These statistics represent a considerable breakthrough in lung cancer screening that could potentially save thousands of lives.
The study, called the National Lung Screening Trial, surprisingly showed that the screens appeared to prevent other deaths as well. This suggests versatility in the CT scan’s ability to detect diseases other than lung cancer. Lung cancer causes more deaths annually in the United States than colorectal, prostate, pancreatic and breast cancer combined.
WOHA's Fall 2010 Hearing Conservation Course was again a success! The three day course was held in WOHA's headquarters at 1140 19th St. NW in DC. Both the facility and the course received excellent feedback. Thank you to all who participated - and congratulations on your CAOHC certification!
10.10
"C" is for Compressions. Traditionally, the first rule of CPR was knowing your ABCs – Airway, Breathing, Compressions. You were to first create a patent airway, next, check for breath sounds and then begin compressions at 30:2 (30 compressions per 2, 1-second breaths). The American Heart Association (AHA) has now rearranged the CPR alphabet. New 2010 guidelines released in October, which replace those of 2005, emphasize that compressions should be done immediately. A-B-C has become C-A-B : Compressions, Airway, Breathing.
All victims in cardiac arrest need compressions in order to circulate vital, oxygen rich blood throughout the body. The new mandate stems from the notion that that the ABC order caused significant delays in starting the essential compressions in a situation when every second matters. Read the news release from the AHA.
6.10
WOHA's seasonal flu program is in full swing! WOHA provides seasonal flu shots on-site at your facility or on a walk-in basis in our clinic. Please contact us for details on how to get your seasonal flu vaccine and visit our flu preparedness page.
5.10
As the aftermath of April's oil spill off the shore of Lousiana continues to batter surrounding ecosystems, WOHA has been solicited by response groups and regulatory entities as a leading expert on the potential environmental and occupational health effects. WOHA will continue to play a decisive role in the response effort to this serious environmental and public health crisis. Stay tuned.
4.10
Drs. Chase and Scott attended the 2010 American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) in Orlando.
3.10
WOHA puts boots on the ground in Haiti. Lexi Hensley, an EMT and WOHA Project Administrator, participated in a two-week relief trip to address the nation’s public health emergency following the devestating January earthquake. Efforts focused on urgent medical care, communicable disease prevention and treatment, essential supply distribution, and basic health education.
Haiti faces immense public health dilemmas including endemic malaria, typhoid and dengue fevers. The rapid spread of these illnesses, parasites, and other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, is facilitated by the congested tent communities and poor sanitation. Infection will be further exacerbated by the impending rainy season. The crisis in Haiti is far from over, and WOHA urges that we not lose sight of this and other public health challanges worldwide.
2.10
In a recent issue of the Bureau of National Affairs' (BNA) Toxics Law Reporter and Expert Evidence Report, WOHA's Senior Vice-president, John Whysner, MD, PhD, was credited by the New York Supreme Court (Nassau County) for providing "more credible" expert testimony in granting summary judgement to Kodak based on lack of general causation.
1.10
WOHA continues to provide elective courses in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (MED 338). Senior Medical Students are assigned to Washington Occupational Health Associates where the effects of various occupational and environmental health hazards are addressed. Participation in clinical intervention is provided under direct physical supervision. Emphasis on the relationship of occupational and environmental medicine to the practice of primary care.
11.09
WOHA now carries Zostavax, the single shot vaccine licensed by the FDA this past May for the prevention of Shingles. If you’ve had chicken pox as a child, you still carry the virus, which can resurface as shingles later in life. While the painful, blistering rash generally lasts approximately 30 days, some experience long-term pain that can potentially last years. The vaccine is both recommended and approved by the FDA for adults. Most insurance companies reimburse in part; you may visit the Zostavax website for further information. Make your appointment to protect yourself against Shingles today!
09.09
WOHA and Dr. Ken Chase are pleased to announce the relocation and expansion of our clinical and consulting practice to 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036 on September 28, 2009. We look forward to seeing you at our new facility!
05.09
Drs. Chase and Scott attended the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) in San Diego. Over 1,000 physicians attended ermergency meetings on current status of and response to the 2009 H1N1 epidemic. For more information about how the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) affects your company, see our flu preparedness page.
03.09
Dr. Chase attended the 29th International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH) in Cape Town, South Africa. The ICOH has over 100 years' tradition in the promotion of international occupation health information, research, training, and good practices. ICOH 2009 was a gathering of over 1700 experts from all parts of the world who presented an exhaustive inventory of occupational health research from the last three years.
This was the first congress ever to take place in Sub-Saharan Africa and second ever on the African Continent. WOHA salutes South Africa, who, with its ambitious strategies for the development of occupational health, serves as an excellent model for other rapidly developing nations.
02.09
Dr. Ken Chase presented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) pre-deployment medical screening process to The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other agencies who participated in NIOSH's kick-off meeting for its Responder Safety & Health Project. NIOSH has taken the initiative to draft guidance for medical surveillance of first responders, with the goal of creating a comprehensive directive that effectively evaluates and maintains responder health in the face of both human and natural crises.
NIOSH posed the idea that the pre-deployment portion of the medical screening process may be based upon the system used by the USACE and managed by WOHA. Dr. Chase's presentation explained the design, implementation, and broad success of USACE’s pre-deployment screening. The success can be attributed to the fact that the program is not only simple, fast, and effective, but it has also greatly reduced health risks during deployment, making it an excellent paradigm for the pre-deployment aspect of NIOSH’s proposed directive.
12.08
Dr. Ken Chase presented “Diversity, Disparity, and Differences” to the executive council meeting of Diversity Spectrum Corporation. A minority and women owned business founded by former WOHA associate Lynn Heffron, Diversity Spectrum is a news and intelligence leader dedicated to informing the public about the rewards of worldwide diversity. Visit Diversity Spectrum's website for information regarding this increasingly important aspect of our global culture.
The presentation addressed the roles of diversity in occupational health, focusing on the relationship between minorities and high incidence of injury and disease in the workplace. It emphasized that risk in target groups can be significantly decreased by eliminating discrimination in hiring, utilizing wellness education programs, and increasing access to occupational health services. This is a necessary and admirable goal for all parties involved in occupational health and safety.
04.08
Drs. Ken Chase, Samuel Scott, and John Whysner were delighted to attend the 2008 American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC) in New York. The AOHC is the American College of Occupational and Envirnonmental Medicine's (ACOEM) annual spring gathering.
ACOEM--of which Drs. Chase and Scott are senior members--is the pre-eminent organization of occupational and environmental
health professionals. Its continuing mission focuses on the education of both professionals and the public, stimulating
research, directing public policy, enchaning the quality of practice, and promoting the field of occupational and environmental medicine (OEM). Please see www.acoem.org for the latest initiatives in this important, innovative field of medicine.
06.07
Dr. Ken Chase met with Dr. John Eisold, the attending physician of the United States Capitol to discuss the latest issues of mutual
concern, e.g. Pandemic Flu preparations. (See the photo at right).
12.06
Holiday Miracle at DC Law Firm: An employee using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was able to save a senior partner of a major DC law firm.
On Friday, December 8, a 46-year old man collapsed at his desk and fell to the floor. He was without breath or pulse. While nearby co-workers attempted to assist him and called 911, another staff member arrived with the firm's AED. He turned on the AED, followed the simple instructions, and delivered a single shock. CPR was performed and the man began moving and breathing on his own before the ambulance crew arrived.
AED medical oversight - required in Maryland, Virginia, and the District - should include quality assurance, regular training, making adjustments for new science, and awareness of local regulations. In this case, medical oversight is provided by Kenneth Chase, MD and Samuel Scott, MD, MPH of WOHA who actively work with Lifework, Inc. to provide yearly training, replacement supplies, and make program adjustments.
Thanks to this technology and knowledgable staff participation, this gentleman was able to enjoy the holidays at home with his family. He then participated as a student in the very same AED CPR course that saved his life.
For more information on implementing a private or corporate Early Defibrillation Program, please contact Anita Taylor and visit our Early Defibrillation Programs page.
WOHA launches secure Web Portal along with new and improved medical monitoring database! WOHA is leading the way in allowing tracking of employee fit-for-duty status and drug/alcohol test results. In an age where time is so precious, we have launched a major upgrade to our legacy medical monitoring application (MONITOR 3.0). This updated application has facilitated more efficient managing and reporting of results.
In tandem, we have deployed a .NET based web portal to allow selected clients to login and check status on employee exams and drug/alcohol test results. Our web portal is connected directly to MONITOR 3.0 and provides real-time reporting. Through this service, clients are able to electronically notify WOHA of upcoming exams and are also able to download medical exam packets for employees to complete. Behind two firewalls, the portal provides secure access (128-bit SSL encryption in addition to encryption of data on our servers) 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week anywhere in the world where there is access to the Internet. Our web portal offers simple navigation of confidential data, which is made available only to authorized users.
This internet based solution permits delivery of medical certifications directly to your desktop with the click of a button. The web portal is HIPAA compliant and provides a secure, easy-to-use, web based solution that enhances timely communication and reporting capabilities. Client training is facilitated by WOHA hosted webinars.
Please contact Chris Botts for additional information.
10.06
Dr. Ken Chase represented the DHS Occupational Health Advisory Committee at Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Organizational Meeting in Washington, DC.
Drs. Ken Chase, Sam Scott, and John Whysner participated in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's (ACOEM) State of the Art Conference (SOTAC) in New York City. See www.acoem.org for more information.
Dr. Ken Chase spoke on Pandemic Preparedness at a human resources Executive Forum. Visit our flu preparedness and emergency preparedness pages to learn how WOHA can help ensure that your company is ready for potential outbreaks!
07.06
Drs. Chase and Scott, along with staff and guests, met at WOHA with senior physicians from the Office of the Attending Physician, Congress of the United States for a presentation on Pandemic Flu Preparedness, Response and Recovery. The presentation was followed by lively, interactive discussion of this very important issue. All in attendance were clearly committed to follow developments and respond accordingly to the subject of discussion.
05.05
WOHA hosted a wonderfully successful Hospitality Suite on Monday, May 2, 2005 as part of AOHC 2005. We trust that everyone who attended had an enjoyable time!
03.05
Dr. John Whysner attended the 44th Annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology in New Orleans, where he was asked to provide comments on the updating of the IARC Preamble, which has not been done since 1991.
07.04
Dr. Ken Chase served on the Planning Committee for the American Occupational Health Conference held April 29-May 4, 2005 in Washington, D.C.
06.04
Dr. John Whsyner was appointed to the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, as Associate Clinical Professor of Environmental Health Sciences.
05.04
Dr. Ken Chase joins the Founder's Circle of the Occupational and Environmental Health Foundation. See www.oehf.org for additional information.