2600 Employee Health Service

2605 Introduction

.1 Background and History

.111 The Employee Health Service (EHS) was established in 1962 as part of the Division of Personnel Services and Development in the New York State Department of Civil Service. The program was created in response to a feasibility study of the need for an organized program of health and medical services for State employees, and to consolidate some limited employee health services that were being provided independently by a few State agencies.

.112 The EHS program has grown from an original staff of 4 employees to approximately 50 employees distributed throughout the State. EHS currently operates medical examination centers in Cohoes (near Albany) and Hauppauge (on Long Island), and approximately 22 nursing stations across the State. EHS also utilizes a number of consultant physicians in various New York State cities. Although the scope of services provided by these units and the emphasis placed on them have changed over the years to reflect trends in health care, the medical examination centers and the nursing stations continue to be the primary vehicles for the delivery of occupational health services to State employees.

.120 Mission and Goals

.121 The mission of EHS is to promote and maintain the highest degree of individual employee health in New York State workplaces.

1. Employee Health Service programs have the following goals:
   • Protecting workers from hazards and risks resulting from factors in the workplace adverse to health;
   • Providing advice to management and employees concerning the physical, mental and emotional capacity of workers to perform with an acceptable degree of efficiency without endangering their own health and welfare or that of others; and
   • Teaching and assisting in measures for personal health maintenance.
2. In addition to the primary mission of service to State employees and agencies, EHS also provides its full range of services to: (1) agents, independent contractors, students, interns, and consultants; and, (2) employees of quasi-State agencies, authorities and corporations. EHS also provides emergency nursing care to adults and minors who work at or visit the premises on which State activities are conducted.
3. The specific objectives of EHS are:
   • Evaluate the medical capacity of workers to perform their jobs safely and effectively;
   • Protect workers from health hazards and risks;
   • Promote and enhance employee wellness;
   • Assess and treat and/or refer persons in cases of illness or accident.

.130 Program Areas

.131 Employee Health Service activities are divided into four broad categories of services:

1. Health Evaluations and Advisory Services:
   • Preplacement physical examinations;
   • Mandatory physical examinations;
   • Certification of individuals eligible for appointment under Section 55.b/c of the Civil Service Law;
   • Evaluation of individuals referred by agencies for medical evaluation of workers' ability to perform the duties of their job (Agency Referrals);
   • Employee return-to-work certifications;
   • Workers' compensation examinations for employees in selected bargaining units;
   • Family Medical Leave Act evaluations;
   • Reasonable accommodation requests pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law, Article 15, sections 290-301);
   • Examinations to monitor the effect of exposure to toxic substances; and
   • Advice to agencies regarding issuance of handicapped parking privileges to employees.
2. Occupational Health Programs:
   • Health screenings (including OSHA-mandated exams);
   • Immunization programs;
   • Respirator use clearance; and
   • Audiometric testing.
3. Assessment and Intervention for Illness and Injury:
   • First responder emergency services for serious illnesses and injuries;
   • Treatment for minor illnesses and injuries;
   • Health-related guidance and counseling; and
   • Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) agreements.
4. Wellness Promotion
   • Voluntary medical screenings to assist individuals with maintaining good health;
   • Health risk assessments;
   • Health education; and
   • Basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

---

TM-63; July 2008

Return to Top ^