FHMS now includes an occupational medicine program which began in August at its Jamestown office located at 31 Sherman St., its Fredonia office, located at 3780 Eagle St., and its Westfield office, located at 216 Main St.

Family Health Medical Services founding partner Dr. Robert Berke, and Medical Review Officer and Partner Dr. Metivia Whitmore are already certified, so Practice Manager Amy Reinhardt said it made sense to provide more services in occupational medicine.

Recently UPMC Chautauqua stopped its occupational medicine services.

“So we said, ‘Now might be a good time to kind of, you know, take this on.’ We’ve been doing some stuff with small employers,” Reinhardt said.

Family Health Medical Services Jamestown office is located at 31 Sherman st. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

UPMC Chautauqua President Tracy Gates said one of the reasons for the closure of the hospital’s occupational medicine program was that those particular services were already being duplicated by other providers in the area.

“It (program closure) allows us to really center our efforts and our workforce around what we’re really good at, and let those other providers provide that service that they’re good at,” Gates said. “I think it’s reducing that duplication, and getting the expertise where it belongs, is better for everybody. So there really wasn’t anything clandestine about it. It just was, where the resources were, and it made sense to all the parties involved.”

The Family Health Medical Services expansion, Reinhardt said, is designed to support the health and safety needs of businesses and their employees by providing accessible, quality occupational health care close to home by a local organization deeply rooted in communities. Reinhardt said Services will include minor workplace injury care, pre-employment physicals, school physicals, asbestos exams, return to work exams, department of transportation physicals, drug and alcohol testing, respirator fit tests, pulmonary function testing, audio screenings, immunizations, and random drug screen programs.

Family Health Medical Services is partnering with area employers to provide on-site occupational health programs, bringing care directly to the workplace to minimize downtime and maximize productivity.

“Employers don’t want any downtime with their staff,” Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt added that employers prefer that health care providers visit businesses on-site and perform new-hire physicals, flu clinics, and random drug screening.

“Local employers have told us they need more accessible options for occupational health,” Reinhardt said. “By expanding in this way, we’re making it easier for businesses to get the care their teams need without losing valuable work time.”

Family Health Medical Services Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Buck echoed Reinhardt’s thoughts.

“Occupational medicine is about supporting employees so they can perform their best on the job,” Buck said. “After UPMC Occupational Medicine closed in August, I joined FHMS to be part of this new program with an organization that has invested four decades of their time to protect the wellness, and long-term health of our community. I look forward to continuing my working relationship with the employers I’ve cared for the last several years.”

Whitmore added that by offering occupational medicine, FHMS is strengthening its commitment to area families and businesses.

Family Health Medical Services, a provider of comprehensive primary care in Chautauqua County for 43 years, invites local employers to learn more about occupational medicine offerings.

For more information call (716) 484-4033 or visit fhmsed.com.