The physician-owned occupational health department

This article provides a process to evaluate the likelihood of establishing a financially viable occupational medicine program (OMP), and discusses opportunities in which the occupational medicine clinic can partner with employers to help them to reduce the occurrence of work-related injuries and provide a safer work environment. Not all germane topics are discussed-employers must address safety and ergonomic issues within the workplace as well as those that a successful OMP is designed to address. However, the OMP should be a readily available resource for any of these issues. Common occupational challenges and opportunities also are examined.