Medical Society Recognizes Best Corporate Health Programs
Chicago, May 22, 2000--The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) announces that Dow Chemical Company, General Electric Power Systems, and Sherman Health Systems are winners in its fourth annual ACOEM Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA) competition. In addition, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory will receive Model Program Awards.
The 2000 CHAA winners were recognized May 17 at the opening session of the American Occupational Health Conference (AOHC), the world's largest meeting of occupational health professionals, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Winners presented their programs in an afternoon AOHC scientific session.
Cosponsored by Glaxo Wellcome Inc., the CHAA competition provides national recognition and honor to organizations within North America that demonstrate superior employee health, safety, and environmental management programs. It encourages corporate self-assessment and continuous improvement, and calls more widespread attention to the importance of health and safety at work.
The 2000 competition, open to any organization that employs more than 1,000 workers, recognizes winners within the following categories: manufacturing, Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich., and General Electric Power Systems of Schenectady, N.Y.; and nonprofit services, Sherman Health Systems of Elgin, Ill. Brookhaven National Laboratory of Upton, N.Y., and Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory of Idaho Falls, Idaho, will receive Model Program Awards in the nonprofit services category and government services category, respectively.
Participants were rigorously reviewed by a professional team of occupational medicine physicians, who considered written applications and examined finalist companies during in-depth, on-site visits.
Competing organizations were judged on their commitment to and excellence in creating comprehensive and innovative employee health and environmental management programs. Examiners looked for measurable results in 23 quality categories covering 4 areas: healthy people, a healthy environment, a healthy company, and management and leadership.
The categories explore such concerns as the degree to which employees are rehabilitated following illness or injury; inspection and reduction of workplace hazards; environmental protection programs; involvement in developing governmental health and safety regulations; and collection and analysis of data concerning the impact of the company's health programs.
To encourage ongoing superiority in their efforts, finalist participants received extensive feedback from examiners on their program strengths as well as areas needing improvement. Specific areas were singled out for praise in each organization.
"These organizations are clearly models of excellence, with exceptional achievements in employee health, safety, and environmental medicine," said Dr. Robert J. McCunney, ACOEM president. "We commend them for their exemplary standards."
ACOEM, an international society of 7,000 occupational medicine physicians, provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments by educating health professionals and the public; stimulating research; enhancing quality of practice; guiding public policy; and advancing the field of occupational and environmental medicine. The ACOEM CHAA competition is cosponsored by Glaxo Wellcome Inc.
Information about the CHAA program is available from ACOEM's director of public relations, Debra Bethard-Caplick, at 847/818-1800, ext. 383.
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