By Sue Stock, OT, COHPM; Sparrow Occupational Health Services
As March 2020 began, so did the changes and challenges that we all have endured since then. As a hospital-based occupational health program, it was our responsibility to figure out how to assist our employers in keeping their employees safe and on the job.
Sparrow is a Health Care System with 845 beds, over 9,000 caregivers, and 120 sites of care, based in Lansing, Michigan, which is the Capital of Michigan. Newsweek recently named Sparrow among the top 150 hospitals in the nation. Sparrow was among the first hospitals in Michigan to administer COVID-19 tests to inpatients and received national and even international attention for improving access to COVID-19 tests and vaccines through our drive-thru site. The location is a former Sears Automotive Center converted virtually overnight into a seven-lane drive-thru utilized by people throughout the state.
Sparrow also differentiated itself by allowing loved ones to visit their COVID-positive family members, using safety equipment and numerous precautions. Sparrow’s pandemic response and care for our community have been spotlighted on CBS, NBC (including The Today Show), ABC, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, and Sky TV in England, among others.
“Sparrow Occupational Health Services provided a plan from the beginning of the pandemic, and with this partnership, we were able to stand strong against the ever-changing daily needs of our staff. From testing to quarantine, isolation, asymptomatic vs symptomatic, telehealth visits, to return to work evaluation, Sparrow Occupational Health was there. They helped keep our team safe and on the job.” – Laurie Thornton, American Plumbing
Our Occupational Health Care Team rose to the challenge. Providing occupational health care services to over 1,000 employers in mid-Michigan, our team worked diligently with our employer partners and their essential workers to help them understand this virus and how to prevent its spread.
- Developed virtual town halls providing critical education/resources to employers on COVID-19
- Worked with Sparrow IT Department to develop a COVID-19 Screening Tool for employees (APP)
- Created a COVID-19 Employer Guide, available to all employers (including those outside Michigan)
- Created an employer-initiated program for COVID PCR testing of both symptomatic and asymptomatic employees with Telehealth visits and test results going directly to the employer
- Offered onsite employee screening services
- Access to an EAP Program for employees
- Developed a list of CDC/State/County/OSHA resources for employers
- Respirator Fit Testing- education and mask fitting for employers who have never used N95 masks (Dental Offices, Colleges, etc)
- Onsite vaccination clinics for employers
Benefits
- Employers stayed up to date on CDC, OSHA, and MIOSHA guidelines related to COVID-19 and the workplace
- Reduced the amount of time employees were off work
- Helped prevent COVID outbreaks at the workplace
- Helped keep essential workers safe and on the job
- Quick turnaround of PCR results and 24/7 reporting of results
- Employees were tested at the appropriate time with OH guidance
“Sparrow Occupational Health Services was on top of everything throughout this pandemic making our job easy with determining whether our employees should work or not. They were always responsive and were our COVID Warriors – they helped save hundreds of lives and we are so thankful to be one of their partners.” – Marianne Cox, Grand Ledge Ford
As we move forward with the 2021 late summer/Fall COVID-19 surge we continue to provide guidance, testing, and care to help employers keep employees healthy and on the job… what Occupational Health Programs do best!
