PACHS mission is to serve your wellness and lifecare needs with compassion and respect.
Customizing services is especially important to smaller industries or those just initiating business health services.
Our staff will provide timely, accessible, and professional service. Additionally, hospital and physician services, physical and occupational therapy, lab, x-ray, and respiratory therapy are available to the BHS. The BHS department has an established, working relationship with all medical personnel affiliated with the hospital and clinics.
Various services that are available to your business through our department are listed on this website. If you have any questions regarding services or implementing health and safety programs, call PACHS Business Health Service at 712.852.5469.
The BHS aims to provide individual companies with services tailored to fit their needs.
Drug & Alcohol Testing
- PACHS Business Health & Lab departments provides companies with a complete drug and alcohol testing program that meets all federal requirements.
- Our laboratory staff are certified Breath Alcohol Technicians who will provide breath alcohol testing as described by the DOT or your company’s policy.
- Laboratory testing is available 24 hours a day for post-accident and reasonable cause drug screening.
For further information on drug and alcohol screening, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Post-Offer and Yearly Screens
Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health department offers a Post-Offer Screening specifically tailored to fit your company’s needs.
Basic components of the screens include:
- Health History Evaluation
- Nursing Assessment
- Height, Weight, Pulse, Blood Pressure
Optional Testing Available:
- Physical Capacity Profile
- Drug testing
- Audiometric testing
- Pulmonary Function testing
- Respiratory Medical Evaluation
- Respiratory Fit test
- Vision screening
- Vaccinations: Flu, Hepatitis B, Tdap (Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis), TB skin test
Your company can mix and match any of the above components to meet your specific needs.
The primary purpose of the screens is to identify conditions that would put the worker or co-workers at risk in the workplace.
When the screening is complete, a summary report is sent to you, the employer, noting the employee’s ability to perform work or accommodations that need to be made to reduce risk. The employee is informed of abnormal findings and recommendations for further evaluations may be made.
All screens are performed in compliance with current ADA requirements. For this reason, companies most often request that our office keep employee medical records and the summary sheet be faxed to the employer. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that ADA and other legal requirements are adhered to.
For more information on Post-Offer/Yearly Screens, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Physicians
Stephen Betz, MD
On Staff At Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa1000 4th Street SWMason City, IA 50401
Angela Konrad, DO
On Staff At Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa1000 4th Street SWMason City, IA 50401
Chady Meroueh, MD
On Staff At Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa1000 4th Street SWMason City, IA 50401
David Sloan, MD
On Staff At Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa1000 4th Street SWMason City, IA 50401
Educational Programs
Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health department offers many educational programs, which provide training needs for business and industry. Our instructive programs are offered on-site and are scheduled in a manner most convenient to maintaining production.
Some of the programs available include:
- Supervisor Drug Training
- Hearing Conservation/Workplace Noise Pollution (OSHA Required)
- Respiratory Protection (OSHA Required)
- Proper Nutrition & Exercise
- Sleep Apnea
- Stress Management
- Back Safety/Proper Lifting
- Office Ergonomic (Workstation assessment)
If your company has a training need not addressed in the above list, our staff will be able to design a program for you, or make a referral to the appropriate individual.
To schedule an educational program for your company, contact PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Home Sleep Study
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most undiagnosed sleep disorder in the world. Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, diabetes, cancer and serious accidents due to fatigue and sleepiness. Patients with untreated sleep apnea have been proven to incur double the healthcare costs of those that have been diagnosed and treated.
A sleep study is used for the diagnosis of several sleep disorders including, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy. Testing is usually performed overnight to monitor sleep patterns. Sleep studies are available at Palo Alto County Health System as on overnight stay. Another option recently available through the Business Health Office is a test that can be performed in the patient’s own home. Home sleep testing allows you to be studied in your normal sleeping environment. Sleep testing equipment is worn on your forehead for one night while you sleep. A detailed report will be sent to the patient within two days after the study.
If you are at risk for sleep apnea or need the test for a DOT physical, Palo Alto County Health System can provide you with a comprehensive sleep study.
For more information on sleep studies at Palo Alto County Health System, call 712.852.5469.
Hearing Conservation Program
According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, work-related hearing loss continues to be a critical workplace safety and health issue. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable but once acquired, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. Therefore, prevention measures must be taken by employers and workers to ensure the protection of workers’ hearing.
The Hearing Conservation Program at Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health Department helps to minimize workers’ compensation claims for hearing loss, can help prevent accidents caused by poor communication, and can help your employees maintain their level of hearing.
Our services provide baseline audiograms for all your employees. This can protect you and can reduce workers’ compensation claims if hearing was impaired before employment.
We employ Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) experienced in audiometric testing, OSHA regulations, and employee education.
During an exam, an otoscopic screening is done to determine the presence of obstructions in the ear canal. If the nurse notes any signs of infection or other medical issues, the employee will be referred to his or her physician. Once the problem is corrected, an audiogram will be performed.
When reviewing the results of the audiogram with your employees, the nurse will discuss the proper use of hearing protection and the effects of noise on hearing.
All OSHA documentation is included in the employee file upon completion of the hearing test.
To arrange a Hearing Conservation Program for your company, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Injury Treatment Program
Employers spend millions of dollars each year due to work-related injuries. To decrease costly delays in treatment and expedite workers’ rate of recovery and return to work, Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health department has developed a Workers’ Injury Treatment Program.
Our objectives in providing this service are:
- Timely, appropriate heath care for the injured worker
- Easy accessibility to the health system
- Communication to the employer
- Clear and precise treatment recommendations from the physician communicated to you by the Business Health nurse
This procedure will be followed when an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job:
Respiratory Protection Program
Respiratory protection equipment allows employees to protect their lungs against workplace hazards. Because potentially dangerous situations may exist at some workplaces, it’s important that all employees who need protection have proper respiratory protection equipment and take personal responsibility for their own respiratory safety. The proper fit and education on how and when to use this equipment is also needed.
Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health department provides a Respiratory Program that provides:
- Medical Evaluations Of All Employees Required To Wear Respiratory Protection
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Fit Testing
- Assistance With Program Development
- Employee Training For Proper Use, Cleaning & Storing
- Education Classes
For more information about our Respiratory Protection Services, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Worksite Wellness Program
Worksite Wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. Not only can these programs be utilized as an internal marketing strategy, they also can have a direct effect on health care costs by encouraging early detection of health problems and promoting positive lifestyle changes. Early detection and lifestyle changes can save the business and industry millions of dollars in reduced insurance costs, absenteeism and turnover rates. PACHS Business Health department will assist your company in developing a Wellness Program tailored to fit your company’s needs.
Our nurses will assist you in determining which components of our Wellness offerings best suit your workforce needs.
Services we can provide include:
Results from the Wellness Program are delivered to your company upon completion, and our nurses are available to review results with participants.
If your company is interested in starting an annual Wellness Program or needs immunizations, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Respiratory Protection Program
Respiratory protection equipment allows employees to protect their lungs against workplace hazards. Because potentially dangerous situations may exist at some workplaces, it’s important that all employees who need protection have proper respiratory protection equipment and take personal responsibility for their own respiratory safety. The proper fit and education on how and when to use this equipment is also needed.
Palo Alto County Health System’s Business Health department provides a Respiratory Program that provides:
- Medical Evaluations Of All Employees Required To Wear Respiratory Protection
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Fit Testing
For more information about our Respiratory Protection Services, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Worksite Wellness Program
Worksite Wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. Not only can these programs be utilized as an internal marketing strategy, they also can have a direct effect on health care costs by encouraging early detection of health problems and promoting positive lifestyle changes. Early detection and lifestyle changes can save the business and industry millions of dollars in reduced insurance costs, absenteeism and turnover rates. PACHS Business Health department will assist your company in developing a Wellness Program tailored to fit your company’s needs.
Our nurses will assist you in determining which components of our Wellness offerings best suit your workforce needs.
Services we can provide include:
Results from the Wellness Program are delivered to your company upon completion, and our nurses are available to review results with participants.
If your company is interested in starting an annual Wellness Program or needs immunizations, call PACHS Business Health department at 712.852.5469.
Inservice
The Palo Alto County Health System Inservice Department offers a wide range of services which include:
- Staff Development
- Infection Control
- Blood Exposure Counseling
- Patient Advocate Services
- Continuing Education
- Blood Bank
- Staff Inservices
- Employee Orientation
- Risk Management
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
- Quality Management
- Patient Education
- Reach-To-Recovery
- Meals-On-Wheels
- Hospital Policy & Procedure Update
- First Grade Student Tours
