Occupational medicine: keeping people safe, fit and working
Occupational medicine looks after injuries and illnesses linked to work, and helps people stay fit to do their jobs safely. It is the base Nova Medical Centers was built on, and the reason our rehabilitation and regenerative care sit alongside workplace safety, testing and early injury care.
What occupational medicine covers
Occupational medicine is the part of medicine concerned with how work affects health and how health affects work. It covers care after a work injury, testing and fitness-for-duty evaluations, prevention, and guidance for employers on keeping workplaces safe.
Which services are available depends on the location.
Guidance on this page is reviewed by clinicians listed under physicians and clinical governance. See current Nova locations for where care is offered.
Services at the heart of the work
Work injury care
Evaluation and treatment of injuries that happen on the job, with clear work restrictions and a plan for returning to duties.
Pre-employment and workplace testing
Employers use drug and alcohol testing as part of hiring and safety programs. Our guide explains how the main programs work and where each rule applies.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Rehabilitation helps people recover from strains, sprains and surgery and return to the tasks their job requires.
Travel medicine
Some Nova clinics have appeared in the CDC’s directory of yellow fever vaccination clinics.
Injury prevention
Ergonomics, stretching and safety guidance for desk and physical work.
Employers can read how pre-employment drug and alcohol testing programs work. Recovery often includes physical therapy and rehabilitation. Prevention is covered in ergonomics and injury prevention.
For employers
Treatment beyond first aid counts as medical treatment under OSHA’s recordkeeping rule, 29 CFR 1904.7, which can make an injury recordable. The rule lists what counts as first aid, so check it when you decide whether an injury must be recorded.
A written emergency plan, a stocked first aid kit, a clear testing policy and early attention to aches and strains reduce avoidable problems.
Practical checklists are collected in our workplace safety resources. Start with the emergency equipment checklist for an office. Stock the kit using first aid kit essentials. For outdoor work in winter, see our cold stress guidance. More articles are on our workplace health blog. On whether employee wellness programs pay off, the research is mixed.
This page is general information. It is not medical or legal advice and does not replace the rules that apply to your workplace.
What happens after a work injury
Select a stage. Rules differ by state and employer, so follow your employer’s policy and your state’s workers’ compensation rules.
Employee
Stop the task, tell your supervisor, and get first aid. For a serious injury, call 911.
Employer
Provide first aid, call emergency services if needed, keep the area safe and start an incident report.
Employee
See a clinician, explain exactly how the injury happened, and follow any work restrictions you are given.
Employer
Direct the employee to care, document what happened, and report to the insurer as the rules in your state require.
Employee
Keep up therapy or follow-up visits and report pain that returns. Return in steps if you were given restrictions.
Employer
Offer modified duty where possible, check whether the task or set-up caused the injury, and fix it.
References
About the clinical team behind this page
Dr. Arnaldo Manuel Mora is Medical Director and leads clinical governance at Nova. His background is in internal and occupational medicine. He oversees diagnostic intake, baseline laboratory review and the safety standards that apply before any prescription therapy, including pharmacy sourcing and contraindication screening as described in our safety guide.
Dr. Pelham Williams IV is Regional Medical Director for Nova’s Southeast region, based in Atlanta. His practice centers on the evaluation and non-operative management of musculoskeletal and work-related injuries, including acute joint injuries and repetitive-strain problems, and he reviews content on occupational injury and sports injury diagnosis.
Medical disclaimer: The information on this site is for education and does not replace a consultation, diagnosis or treatment. Full credentials are on our physicians and clinical governance page.
Keep reading
Individual results vary and no outcome is guaranteed. This page is general information, not medical advice.