Contact:
Ellen C. McKenna
434-982-4490
ecm6n@virginia.edu
WORKPLACE FLU SHOTS GOING BRISKLY, REPORTS UVA-WORKMED
On-site vaccinations up 20% at area businesses
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (December 4, 2007) - WorkMed, an occupational health and wellness specialty clinic within the University of Virginia Health System, has had a busy flu shot season vaccinating nearly 1,100 more area workers than last year, a 20 percent annual increase.
By the time its final vaccine clinic ended on November 30, WorkMed had administered more than 6,600 flu shots to employees at UVa and at 35 community businesses.
"We began our flu shot season in October with 6,805 doses of adult influenza vaccine. By the end of November, our inventory was down to 154 doses," says Mary Conlon, program coordinator at UVa WorkMed. "The remaining doses will go to employees of our flu vaccine clients who missed our on-site visit."
WorkMed administered flu shots to 3,676 UVa employees on grounds and at the Medical Center. It provided another 3,000 flu shots at 33 businesses in Charlottesville and Albemarle County and at two in Lynchburg. Seven of those businesses were first-time WorkMed customers.
"Studies estimate that the flu costs American employers nearly $10 billion in paid sick leave each year. More and more, local businesses are discovering that WorkMed's on-site flu shot program is a win-win. Workers avoid the flu, and employers reduce the costs of missed workdays," Conlon explains.
Since its launch three years ago, UVA-WorkMed has become a cost-saving ally to businesses around the state. Besides offering workplace immunizations and flu shots, the clinic provides wellness education; drug, alcohol, tuberculosis and other health screenings; pre-hire and annual physicals; medical evaluations and fitness for duty assessments; and, proactive safety programming. Another important WorkMed service is medical management of worker's compensation cases.
The staff at UVA-WorkMed is multidisciplinary and includes registered dietitians, registered and licensed practical nurses, an exercise physiologist and a biomedical rehabilitation engineer. The clinic's Medical Director, Dr. David Rubendall, oversees patient care and is a certified Medical Review Officer who handles worksite injury cases for numerous companies. More information about WorkMed services can be obtained by calling 434-243-0075 or by visiting http://www.uvaworkmed.com/.
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