By Les Gura

Wake Forest Baptist

HealthWire

About 50 people, many in the Davie County business community, turned out April 16 at the Bermuda Run campus of Wake Forest Baptist Health–Davie Medical Center to talk about how to improve the health of their employees.

The goal of the event, Davie Medical Center President Chad Brown said, was to hold a “catalyst of discussion’’ of what types of health programs Davie Medical Center can offer employers to address the acute care needs of employees and as a result, help prevent chronic disease.

Dr. Bret Nicks, chief medical officer of Davie Medical Center, said that Davie County has a legacy of good community medical care.

“The capacity of this facility, the vision many of you had so many years ago, comes down to recognizing the value of health,’’ Nicks said. “With health in the community comes growth.”

Nicks and Dr. Matt Cline, medical director of Bermuda Run’s emergency department, noted the many specialists with offices at Davie Medical Center offer medical services many smaller communities do not have, including orthopaedics, cardiology, neurology and ophthalmology.

These services are offered to businesses through Wake Forest Baptist Health Occupational Medicine. The director of that program, Ken Bush, MPAS, PA-C, ATC, attended to learn from business representatives.

The Occupational Medicine unit helps businesses tailor plans to promote the health and wellness of employees. For some companies in Mocksville, such as Ingersoll-Rand – a manufacturer of precision machine components – the plan includes a Wake Forest Baptist nurse on site full-time to meet the health needs of employees.

Other companies might arrange for on-site office hours with a designated nurse or health care practitioner, or seek a specific program for employees.

A typical occupational health need includes injuries on the job which can be treated through Wake Forest Baptist Health’s urgent care facility in Mocksville or Davie Medical Center’s emergency department in Bermuda Run. Orthopaedic care and physical therapy are two other typical occupational health needs.

Bush noted, however, that businesses increasingly want a healthier work force, and seek programs that promote long-term health and reduce risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“We can bring in additional resources to enhance the health and wellness of employees through different types of education, rehabilitation and screening programs,” said Bush.

Brown noted that these programs will be part of the Bermuda Run campus asthe medical center grows along with Davie County.

“We’re excited to work with our business leaders, helping our businesses thrive and being a partner with you and your employees as well,’’ Brown said.