By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
March 10, 2004
Three local physicians talked about work-related injuries Tuesday to a large crowd of representatives from area industries.
About 100 people, mostly plant nurses, safety risk managers and human resource managers, attended a "Lunch and Learn" seminar at Howard Johnson's, presented by Rush Health Systems' Industrial Health Program.
The program is used to help businesses and industries reduce workplace injuries; enable injured employees to continue to work; and minimize the lost work time of injured employees.
Chuck Reece, executive vice president of Rush Health Systems, said employees and employers each benefit from workers being able to return sooner to their jobs.
Doctors at the seminar described industrial-type injuries, how they are diagnosed and how they can best be treated.
Dr. Lon Alexander, neurosurgeon with Meridian Neurosurgery, covered back-related injuries; Dr. David Doorenbos, neurologist with Rush Medical Group, talked about carpal tunnel syndrome; and Dr. Jimmy Watson, orthopedic surgeon, with the Rush Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, discussed common knee injuries.
Alexander stressed the importance of using physical treatments when possible for back problems, as opposed to surgery. He also said it is important to prepare employees psychologically to return to work.
Also available at the luncheon were representatives from Rush WorkForce Wellness, the Rush Pain Treatment Center, Rush Woundcare/Hyperbaric Center, Rush Rehabilitation Services, Rush Diagnostic Imaging Services and The Specialty Hospital of Meridian.