THE NEED FOR occupational medicine support is crucial for successful business operations. Facing the challenges of complex regulatory requirements and the rising cost of workers’ compensation and disability while improving employee productivity are major issues that employers must address.

The challenges of providing occupational medicine services have evolved since CORE Occupational Medicine’s inception 20 years ago. In the past, individual occupational medicine clinics operated as a localized solution to a company’s occupational medicine needs. In today’s competitive market, companies are seeking integrated solutions, which is the genesis from which CORE has engineered its platforms.

“We wanted to create an organization that was more responsive to getting employees prompt, appropriate care, but also provides collaborative activity with employers so that there is continuity of care for the employee as well as a communication channel for the best possible outcomes,” says Managing Partner of CORE Health Networks Chad Scott, P.E. 

CORE evolved from a single clinic, incorporating onsite mobile and embedded staffing, on its way to offering a fully integrated model. In 2008, CORE Health Networks formed as a new business line to provide corporate occupational medicine program management and injury management services. With hundreds of staff, CORE now provides solutions for numerous Fortune 500 companies, NASA and several other governmental agencies throughout all 50 states.

Today, CORE provides a full spectrum of workplace health services to encompass the entire life cycle of a worker within an organization. This is accomplished through Chief Medical Officer William Nassetta, M.D., MPH, who leads a national team of medical directors, and the use of CORE Connect^SM, a proprietary web-based occupational medicine management platform designed as a scalable, enterprise level solution. CORE Connect^SM serves as a centralized data warehouse for records management, scheduling, medical reviews and more, allowing for seamless integration into human resources departments and leading to a competitive advantage. 

Managing Partner Ron Torres, PA-C, says integrating a multidisciplinary occupational medicine platform is what sets CORE apart. “We perform a multitude of services quite well, and the digital platform is just the greatest expression of our ability.”

CORE provides comprehensive substance abuse testing program management and has been officially recognized as Nationally Accredited for Administration of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs (NAADATP) by the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA)—one of only 45 companies in the country to achieve this accreditation. 

One of CORE’s capabilities is its expanded mobile fleet of occupational service vehicles. Any service that can be performed in a medical clinic can be conducted in an onsite environment, anywhere in the continental U.S. This allows for minimal impact on work activity and significant cost savings. Further, records are available in CORE Connect^SM for client access and recordkeeping.

CORE staffs embedded medical clinics at more than 100 industrial sites throughout the U.S. “Over the last decade, many companies decided to outsource their occupational medicine services, and industry leaders continue to select CORE as their preferred occupational medicine provider,” says Major Mittendorf, PA-C, managing partner.

Rounding out a full spectrum of services, CORE operates its 24/7/365 TimeZero Injury Management^SM Call Center staffed by occupational health providers. “Our goal is to ensure that each employee receives the right care, right now,” explains Scott. “We perform early intervention and active case management so employees receive the best possible care with the best possible outcome.”

In 2017, CORE is taking a more global approach with plans to open offices in both Canada and the Middle East. CORE is also doubling its footprint at home by expanding its call center on Office Park Boulevard. 

“Real-time, appropriate, quality care from occupational medicine-trained personnel is a critical mission of CORE, and that’s really where our expertise comes to play,” says Torres. “Companies have unprecedented access to our nationwide occupational providers across many different industries and geographic concerns. It doesn’t matter what type of company or where they’re located, we have a solution.”