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Show 16 December 9, 1999 uhh Health Elements protect employees from disease, ensure food safety pational Health Working Group. The requirements board consists of a panel of by MSgt. Donald W. Albaugh NCOIC, Public Health 11 The Jenson Occupational Health Facility in Bldg. 249 provides a wide range of occupational health and preventive medicine services for base personnel. The 75th Aerospace Medicine Squadron manages the facility, which includes the Public Health Flight, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight and Occupational Medicine Services. Public Health Flight's mission is to prevent disease, disability and premature death. The Flight is divided into four areas Preventive Medicine, Occupational Health, Audiology and Food Safety. Public Health is all about preventive medicine, the medical strategy of the new millennium. Our elements operate the following programs: occupational medicine experts who reviews Bioen- vironmental Engineering's Y" M. f ., ;: -- -- j i.1:- ' :i- for selected workers if those findings of Public Health y and Bioenvironmental Engineering shop visits. - i & Photos by TSgt. Timothy Trager Mary Web, right, hearing conservation technician, fits a head set on Capt. Abdollah Moghaddam in a soundproof booth in preparation for a hearing test. Right, MSgt. Don Albaugh, Public Health NCOIC, tests food for exact temperature and correct preparation during the lunch rush at the Crosswinds Restaurant. Public Health identifies patients with positive TB skin tests and ensures they receive the proper treatment to prevent active disease. t lie Health also works closely with Bioenvironmental Eng- s1M I ". -- 'fir if; r "' ineering and the Ground Safety Office to ensure a safe y, and healthy work environment. Xt Rabies Control If a rabid animal has bitten someone, the, success of antirabies immunization is directly related to how soon the immunizations are started after the exposure. In l other words, the longer the person waits to get treated i ' after being bitten by a rabid animal, the greater the chance of dying even if treated. Public Health initiates the case management and monitors the program. We evaluate each case and help other medical professionals deterf mine the patient's risk of contracting rabies, and, if availi able, we ensure the biting animal is quarantined for observation by qualified individuals.. If the rabies risk is high or if the animal can't be found, we ensure proper treatment is carried out. The vaccination is a series given over a period. SrA. Lisa Padberg, Public Health journeyman, and TSgt. Patrick Martin, Occupational Health NCOIC, complete a Child Blood Lead Surveillance Program safety equipment inspection on an emergency shower and eyeCollects, analyzes and reports pediatric blood lead wash station at the base entomology shop. Below, Marsha screening data. Conducts blood lead toxicity investiga- Stewart, occupational health case manager, shows Jackie tions. Assists community lead poisoning eduPitts, Pest Management supervisor, the proper eye level for prevention ' cation programs. comfortable computing during a work station ergonomic ' : - r " : r anti-rabi- es 28-da- Public Health enforces Air Force Occupational initiate the Occupational IllnessInjury investigation process and work with workplace supervisors and unit safety managers to reduce ergonomic and other occupational health risk factors. Public Health Case Managers administer occupational injuryillness cases and ensure workers are returned to duty as soon as possible. Public Health routinely performs shop visits to evaluate working conditions, personal protective equipment and Air Force Occupational Safety and Health training programs. Public Health participates in the Ergonomics Working Group to reduce debilitating conditions. Pub- - . Sexually Transmitted Disease Intervention Public Health ensures patients with sexually transmitted diseases are treated and provides follow-u- p testing to confirm effective treatment and provide screening for other SIDs such as HIV and Hepatitis B. Our job also includes interviewing, investigating and contacting those who had sexual contact with the patient during the period of communicability. These contacts are identified, notified and treated to interrupt the spread of disease. We also provide disease education. Occupational Health Medical Surveillance Safety and Health standards. We ensure the program's administrative aspects are conducted correctly and efficiently. We conduct and Tuberculosis Detection and Control tive-injecti-on "threshold" levels are exceeded. The working group discusses specific IP- Communicable Disease Control Program Public Health conducts epidemiology by evaluating the distribution and dynamics of health and disease. This information helps us understand the causes of disease and injury and how best to prevent them. Public Health maintains biostatistics relating to disease and injury incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality and military Significant epidemiological trends such as respiratory or gastrointestinal infections are reported to all health care providers. .": industrial hygiene survey findings and through medical literature, determines safe levels of hazardous agents and decides on the appropriate examinations y survey Medical Treatment Facility Employee Health Program Public Health develops, in collaboration with the infection control committee, admission and quarantine policies to prevent the spread of disease from contagious patients to the community, the medical staff and other patients. Health Education f Public Health has two Occupational Health Nurse Edu- cators who conduct health and safety training classes. Topics include back safety, bloodborne pathogens, cold stress, ergonomics, general hygiene, cadmium, lead, hantavirus, Hazard Communication, health effects and medical surveillance in hazardous waste, hearing conservation, heat stress, HIVAIDS, newcomers orienta- tion, personal protection equipment, stress management in the workplace and supervisor's safety training. Fetal Protection Program Public Health interviews all employed pregnant females, active duty and civilian, to determine if job restrictions are necessary to protect the unborn child from harmful occupational hazards. We consult with Bioenvironmental Engineering on the type and level of occupational hazards, research the hazards as necessary and recommend modification of the standard pregnancy work restrictions. Public Health also considers necessary work restrictions for breast feeding mothers. Hearing Conservation The Public Health Flight's Audiology Progam is responsible for the Air Force Hearing Conservation Program. The hearing program's goal is to prevent d hearuig loss through educating, fitting hearing protection devices and by testing and monitoring the hearing of d personnel. noise-induce- noise-expose- Medical Intelligence Public Health provides operational support as the medical intelligence officer for deploying personnel by incorporating disease prevention strategies. We conduct public health briefings and debriefings for deployment locations during real world deployments and exercises. Medical Entomology Public Health identifies the sources and prevalence of pests impacting Air Force health and efficiency. We advise commanders on the incidence of disease vectors, conpest management personnel to focus on pesticide use trol measures and health education requirements and by in food storage, preparation and serving areas of food on selecting recreation sites when disease vectors are of child care centers and medical treatment facilities, concern. We seasonally check for disease possibilities facilities to ensure patrons or patients do not become by collecting and identifying specimens. If surveillance ill. data indicates that vectors or medical pests pose a health threat, interfere with duty performance or cause a morale Clinical Occupational Health problem, we recommend Civil Engineering implement Public Health administers the Clinical Occupational control measures. We also review the activities performed Health Examinations Requirements Board and the Occu Food and Public Facility Sanitation Surveillance Public Health evaluates establishments and facilities is produced Prepared, stored, or otherwise u We recommend corrective actions when unsanitary practices or improper methods are found. We also evaluate the sanitation of public facilities such as the beauty and barbershops, child development centers, gymnasiums and laundry facilities to prevent disease trans- ?d mission. Medical Food Inspection Public Health inspects food arriving on base and under storage to determine wholesomeness, condition and quality. We advise accountable officers of proper action to dispose of contaminated, deteriorated or otherwise nonconforming food items. We also track hazardous food recalls and ensure recalled items are removed from base tacilities. Public Health investigates commissary customer complaints regarding unsatisfactory food items. |