Occupational Health Clinic Moved to Cowell Building
Clinic Opened in New Home on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Occupational Health Services, the Davis campus employee medical clinic, moved into the Cowell Building (the former Cowell Student Health Center). The clinic opened at its new location on Tuesday, Sept. 6, after the three-day Labor Day weekend. View Campus Map Location.
There was no interruption of service, even as the move was under way. The clinic continued to see patients at its former location (501 Oak Ave., at Russell Boulevard, at the north edge of the campus) through Friday, Sept. 2.
The clinic closed as usual for the weekend (in this case, a holiday weekend), before opening Sept. 6 in its new home. Clinic hours remain the same: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. The clinic is closed for lunch, daily from noon to 1 p.m., and on university holidays.
Occupational Health provides treatment for work-related injuries and illnesses as well as work-related preventive medicine and medical surveillance. The new clinic location formerly served as the treatment area of the Cowell Student Health Center.
Bigger Space Allows for One-Stop Services
The new space is larger, allowing Safety Services to bring some services together, "which will be much more convenient for our clients," said Jill Parker, associate vice chancellor for Safety Services.
For example, many preventive services, such as respirator fits, require first a medical clearance from the medical director, then a respirator fit from an Environmental Health and Safety specialist. In the past, this required two appointments at two different locations. At the new clinic location, the entire process can be completed in a single visit.
Similarly, the ergonomics lab will be relocated to the clinic so that ergonomic issues requiring a physical therapy consultation can be handled in a single visit.
Roger Belcourt, the physician who leads Occupational Health Services, said he sees philosophical and practical benefits in the move from just off campus to the campus. "Our mission is to assume a larger and more visible role in supporting individual departmental operations," he says.
Preventive Services Now Free to Departments
Beginning in 2011-12, all preventive services are now provided at no charge to campus departments. Departments pay only for the cost of consumables and supplies required for these services, such as:
- Respirator fit tests
- Tuberculosis clearances and vaccinations
- Drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers
- Physical therapy
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Pre-employment medical exams
The new approach is possible because the costs of medical prevention and surveillance programs have been fully incorporated into the workers compensation base budget and are now funded through the campus composite benefits rate.The new funding model eliminates all procedure recharge rates and reduces the administrative processes associated with them, including 29 separate recharge rates.
Injuries, Illness and Their Costs are Down, Way Down
Over the past five years, the Davis campus has seen significant drops in injury rates as well as less severe injuries. For example, the number of injuries or illnesses has dropped by 22 percent and total lost workdays by 78 percent. Consequently, works compensation costs have dropped by 60 percent.
These savings directly benefit departments: They have more productive work forces, and workers compensation rate--now paid through the campus composite benefits rate--are lower.
Over the past year, despite an increase of 9 percent in injuries and illnesses, lost workdays have fallen by 65 percent, with less severe illnesses and injuries.
Reminders:
- For all major or life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1.
- Otherwise, call 530-752-6051 or come to the UC Davis Occupational Health Clinic.
- If you are injured at work, notify your supervisor immediately.
Clinic hours and contact information
Get directions to the Cowell Building, new home of the Occupational Health Clinic!
