BarnesCare - 2010 - March 2010 - BarnesCare- St. Louis Occupational Medicine

	February 2010

Kibby Earns Aviation Medical Examiner Certification

BarnesCare is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Thomas Kibby, MD, MPH, CIME, as an Aviation Medical Examiner by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Occupational Skin Disease
Learn how to prevent worker exposure.
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Ask BarnesCare
TWINRIX offers convenient protection for travelers at risk for vaccine-preventable hepatitis.
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eScreen's Advanced Technology
Get negative results within minutes.
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Cold Stress: Working Safely in Winter Weather
Print and post for your employees.
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KibbyFAA

Kibby Earns Aviation Medical Examiner Certification

ThomasKibby1 BarnesCare is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Thomas Kibby, MD, MPH, CIME, as an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

An AME performs medical evaluations on pilots to ensure their health fitness for flying. The AME is appointed to function both as a physician and an "administrator" of the FAA to ensure the safety of the public.

Under the FAA Act of 1958, the FAA administrator is authorized to delegate to qualified private physicians the conduct of medical examinations and the issuance of medical certificates to qualified applicants. AMEs are private physicians, trained and authorized by the FAA to perform airman medical examinations, and to issue medical certificates. New AMEs are designated based upon the local demand for aeromedical certification services.

Dr. Kibby has been board-certified in occupational medicine for 20 years. He is available to perform Class 2 and 3 medical exams at BarnesCare's Midtown clinic. Call 314.747.5800 to make an apppointment.

contactdermatitis

Occupational Skin Diseases

Diseases of the skin are the leading cause of occupational illness across all professions, reports the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

"Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common skin condition we see at BarnesCare," says Karen Moore, MSN, APRN, ANP, BC, BarnesCare nurse practitioner. "The condition is due to a combination of a reduced ability of the skin to resist injury and exposure to a strong concentration of irritating materials, such as soaps or chemicals." Symptoms appear only in the area of skin that came in contact with the irritant, says Moore. Symptoms typically include redness, burning, itching, and pain.

Chemicals that come into contact with the skin can be absorbed, cause irritation, break down the skin or sensitize the immune system. Studies have shown the mass of chemical that can be deposited on a square meter of exposed skin can easily exceed by 500 to 1,500 times the mass that can be inhaled over the same period of time.

When evaluating the control of hazards, consideration must be given to substituting chemicals. Substitution to a less toxic chemical is almost always a good option, unless the alternative chemical is much more volatile, reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Additional control options may include redesigning the work process, eliminating the chemical, including enclosures, and/or personal protective equipment.

Education is important in controlling skin diseases, says Moore. Simple tips for all workers include:

Know about the chemicals you are exposed to
Follow safe work practices
Use the protection provided
Understand the benefits and limitations of personal protective equipment
Know how to check your skin

To learn more, e-mail BarnesCare or contact a BJC Corporate Health Consultant at 314.747.5859.

TravelersHealth2

Ask BarnesCare:
TWINRIX Vaccine Offers Protection

"Is there one vaccine that offers protection against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B?"

GlaxoSmithKline distributes the TWINRIX vaccine, which offers 99.9 percent protection from hepatitis A (HAV) and 98.5 percent protection against hepatitis B (HBV). TWINRIX offers the convenience of only three injections rather than separately administered hepatitis vaccines, which require five injections.

TWINRIX is a popular vaccine with overseas travelers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of American travelers (13 million) could be at risk for vaccine-preventable hepatitis. BarnesCare Travelers' Health Service offers health care and safety guidance for people who plan to travel or work overseas.

To learn more about TWINRIX e-mail Travelers' Health Service or call 314.747.3168.

eScreen

Advanced Technology Sets eScreen Apart

The eScreen Drugs of Abuse Screening System is the first instant, automated, 5-panel drug-testing device providing negative results in minutes. A 5-panel test includes cocaine, phencyclidine, cannabinoids, amphetamines, and opiates. The eScreen technology has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but cannot be used for companies operating under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

How It Works
eScreen's system uses advanced proprietary technology, including the eCup and eReader. The eCup is designed to protect the integrity of each sample and protects donor confidentiality by ensuring the test result is only available to the employer. Test results are read by the eReader electronically, to avoid human errors. Negative results are sent to client companies within one hour. If screening concludes a non-negative sample, the specimen is forwarded to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) certified laboratory for GC/MS confirmation.

Online Results
BarnesCare clients can sign up for e-mail notification of test results. Test results are posted on the eScreen web site in the MyeScreen.com section. An email notice is generated when new results are available. After notification, the user logs onto the password-protected MyeScreen.com to view the confidential results. Online results also allow clients to view past test result information. If you choose not to receive results online, other methods to receive test results are also available.

BarnesCare offers eScreen drug testing at all BarnesCare clinic locations. To learn more or to arrange for services, e-mail BarnesCare or contact a BJC Corporate Health Consultant at 314.747.5859.