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Understanding Occupational Medicine
Many employers require pre-employment medical testing, such as drug screening, vision tests, or even full physicals. These services and more are part of occupational medicine — the specialty area that focuses on employees’ health and productivity, their families, and communities.
Our team at American River Urgent Care in Orangevale, California, provides comprehensive occupational medicine services, ensuring that you are fit and healthy enough to perform the duties associated with your career. We also diagnose and treat work-related injuries, completing the necessary paperwork so you can return to work and your regular activities safely.
Why would I need occupational medicine services?
You might need occupational medicine services at several points during your career. As mentioned, many businesses and organizations require pre-employment physicals, vision and hearing tests, or drug and disease screenings.
For example, most people who work with the public need to have tuberculosis screenings before starting their jobs. Commercial drivers often need to have full physicals, including vision tests on an annual or biannual basis, to maintain their licenses.
What is included in occupational medicine?
Occupational medicine includes all of the services you need to make sure you can safely perform your professional duties.
Pre-employment physicals
A pre-employment physical is similar to your annual checkup, although it might include additional testing based on your job requirements. In addition to checking your blood pressure, heart and lung function, and abdominal healthy, your pre-employment physical could also include:
- Vision tests
- Hearing assessments
- Pulmonary function tests
- Vaccinations, including tetanus and influenza
- X-rays
Your employer might also require annual or biannual physicals to monitor your health throughout your employment.
Health tests
You might also need to have certain health screenings before starting a new job, including:
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Titers (Varicella and hepatitis B)
- Drug testing
- Other blood and urine tests
These tests might be included in your physical, although some employers require tests without the full health assessment.
Work-related injuries
Injuries at work are all too common — in 2019, there were 2.8 million nonfatal work-related injuries in the United States. Our team can assess and treat most work-related injuries, helping you recover quickly and safely, so you don't miss out on earnings and other activities.
How to prepare for an occupational medicine assessment
You don't need to do anything special to prepare for a pre-employment physical or health screening in most cases. Depending on the required tests, you might need to fast for a few hours before your blood draw or urinalysis.
You should make sure to bring all of the necessary documentation to your appointment. Every employer has their paperwork, but in general, you need to bring:
- Paperwork provided by your employer
- A valid driver's license or other ID
- List of current medications
- Information about past surgeries
- List of medical conditions and allergies
Your employer should provide the necessary paperwork, and you can confirm the list of other documentation to bring when you schedule your appointment with our friendly office staff.
If you need a pre-employment physical, drug test, or another occupational medicine service, call our office or book online. We also accept walk-ins.
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