Document zzQN5n7VERaJbjbr9OBryQXqz

From a first-aid station to a comprehensive and integrated medical service in 30 years is the history of the'medical department of the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, now charged with the responsibility for the on-the-job health of approximately 43,000 employes in the United States. S. . . -'4~ The Socony-Vacuum medical department has just moved into.new quar-' ters at its 26 Broadway headquarters in New York Cityr- where it utilizes i 2,500 square feet of floor space for its activities, which inolude x-ray, electrocardiograph and basal metabolism units, and a completely equipped laboratory. Its staff of an associate'doctor, three nurses, a secretary, two stenographers, a laboratory technician, and an x-ray technician is direoted by Dr. A. E. Hoag, medical direotor, a veteran of * 30 years with the company. K ^ ^0 Dr. Hoag is a staunch advocate of the human factor in the practice ^ of industrial medicine, and attributes a low rate of absence from work G, ^ to the establishment and maintenance of good employe cooperation. \ Evidence of employe response to his medical program is found in a 96% ^ average individual acceptance of voluntary health, examinations. ^^ s This factor is also evident in annual medical meetings for his plant ^ physicians and nurses held in New York, where "The Disabled Veteran and the Handicapped," "Job Analysis," "Safety and Medical Liaison" may be A /} found on the speaker's agenda, along with such inter-related topics as ^ "Accident Statistics and Medical Reports," among others. /1/ Functions of the medical department are divided into four primary duties: (1) Physical examinations (pre-placement, periodic, postillness and re-examination at the time of changes of positions); (2) Work in clinic (Care of occupational and non-occupational injuries and dis eases, together with emotional upsets and human relations); (3) Indus trial hygiene (plant sanitary inspections and plant hazards)and (4) Keeping of complete and detailed records. "We believe the dootor must feel that no problem- is too small for him to consider when the nurse brings it to his attention," Dr. Hoag says. "While the problem may seem trivial to the medical personnel, it may be of mountainous proportions to the employe. When our employes, are willing and eager to come to the Medicdl Department, and unburden Thb Institute of Industrial and Social Medicine A Unit of the New York Unhersity-Bellevue Medical Center REC'D INDUSTRY RELATIONS DEP1 (MEDICAL) APR 20 1948 002653 184324 BASIC DATA RETARDS BERYLLIUM RESEARCH. DOCTORS SAY exposed to eef^iii\Jiroofflp5\aias'')T"ysri6W`typ basic information available today as a means of determining proper plant control. Dr. Willard Machle and Dr. Emil G. Beyer, industrial consul tants, told a recent Yale symposium on Occupational Medioine. . Since 1933, there has been an increasing number of reports of dis ease associated with exposure to beryllium compounds, their report pointed out. .* - "Since prevention of an industrial disease remains the best mode of treatment, no effort is being spared to reduce exposure occurring in the population," it said. "These levels are being reduced to the lowest that are economically feasible of achievement. "It has been shown from study of the early ohronic cases that onset followed from months to years (up to five years) following cessation- of exposure.' This implies .that-.a..Repository of...beryllium^compounds was^i-;: accumulated in the lungs during "the" period of exposure;*' this. resulttng in disease after an interval of months or years. Si|Pe experience with these compounds has been limited to a matter of 10 or-11 years^for any significant group in the population, it follows that we are i#^a state of jeopardy insofar as continuing exposure--for from 10; to SCPyears- is concerned." v- AMERICAN CYANAMID PROGRAM EXEMPLIFIES MODERN APPROACH Answering the challenge of new chemical compounds being developed daily in its 40.plants throughout the United*States,- the American' Cyanamid Company has developed a modern medical program, which has closely integrated toxicology, industrial hygiene and engineering into a compact working unit, symbolic of tomorrow's medicine in industry. Dr. Donald 0. Hamblin is director of American Cyanamid's medical department, whose staff for six months has included the full-time services of a psychiatrist. Other staff members include W. R. Bradley, top-ranking industrial hygienist. A dietioian is also a'member of the staff. The department is responsible for the health problems of about 20.000 employes, on. a working.basis of approximately one doctor per each 1.000 employes. Because of its eminence in the field of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biologicals, American Cyanamid lays great stress on industrial hygiene due to the wide range' of products involved. Unique in its operation is the- utilization of the Zeiss- Interfer- ' ometer -- one of three in use this country*-- for measuring gases and vapors by comparisons of their, refractive indices with that of air. Obtained after prolonged negotiation from the Russian commander of the Allied Zone in Germany, the Interferometer has the advantage of flexi bility of calibration and on-the-spot reading of many rather them single 184325 002660 or a proper medical set-up pat into actual"operation*'" This wii noi dM& ikronsdi war'-*'''' __ -i_,,^ i>.-:-___ a .1 ` "i,-.. 1* _ rrrfL>:-- -v. ,- 1'r . refineries are now beginning to function ia & Terr fin wayaiso I d@ nbvknow whether ---. ...- .* * " ::--..i- - A;gKi S.'. iS*-t I ought to mention this or not but 70a know I* not going, to let this gentleman ge. a?ray..wi^, anrthing todaj X ^mmSingabont but /W. , been my Guiding light and adriaor and I cannot giro him too much credit for the great help he has been to the Medical Department in Hiking out the program^that we are endeavoring to carry oat.,- ... . ' . Saint Louis always had a good-Medical bat w have developed a very fine Medical set-up now ia Trenton, Iichfg|n| last Chicago has a Medical which has not as yet begun to function in the way that we would like {and very likely in a very short time Augusta, Kansas will have a Medical Department. These are just preliminary remarks, I might state that 3397 cases were seen and these cases required only 2921 treatments or 1.1 treatments per case. In other words,/ .-.jrz ' .. . - -r there were 6318 first visits and treatments given ia our M^oal SepartosBt^ip *f*. , v;.. \ .1 -- ' - -- This subject you gars me today, is a good, one to answer. I a sure it is too early in the game to even try to answer it but think probably^ instead of taking up f^bx time .; ` y': -/ '?' ?;'' ^." . and ia doing & let." of useless talking that we might better discuss the various problems fro the various Beflamriei.. ? ,X^ -- = fe.SK: 184328 00?r<v' .^,\ 1- Zt;'$:. >- ______ ' : *aitr'i3.ii' f* 'ftiaffi^r ^^S '*" -. - . ^-,'.~t>,;./.>f::iJxrfv>.. Otar &eelteaC r&eord la 'Sc^j^fkcma the lovsV f\f*br$jr* /> r S* ;. minro wgt. >V &V10.' r* It, ie4 1U~ HIs* lit *?liitoiaeiis (iiwigo, Mlr *V MiM' BiM^pim^^W^vll^bliivt^iroIra Cd*,' Be*\ont, Texas gf. Mr* fa jf^'|^giH3ferS&T|(5N^^*^r^tt*^E^y,^%.' ttjSMfe*0** .%"M*r '*** frfr^raf&eturlng, -Jr**# ,_ ritm foik - '" - f?*' Dir, &-W-TlITgWi^ll^y^^B*7 *x-t*' 29* rs ^*-V*ia^*!t^ Supervisor* 2$ ra&sdwy, I. f* C 2S Drs M. &* Schaldi,. Plsrii.Ptarsicisn# Trenton Befinwy* Trentons Michigan . ._ -TL * ` * t.V ,,., .Lv _1\-T rS** - -*W ' .A. * *. *. ^. < * ' . J .. ' . ' "p^rjeSH f-'\ _ *f* * ^ $v at _ 1 8/l331