The Practice >> Improving workers health
Exit Examinations
by Dr. Roy Mangubat (DPCOM)
Exit Physical Examinations
By Roy Mangubat, MD, DPCOM
Few days ago I did an exit medical evaluation for a resigning employee, HR is more concern on the employees exit clearance if he has any liabilities left in the company. I got a chance to talk with an HR friend and was very surprised to know that many companies don't do an exit medical evaluation for resigning/retiring or terminated employees not knowing the importance/implication of such evaluation. Exit Medical PE benefits both the employee and employer in the process, it basically prevents future litigation for the company and ensure the health and well being of the exiting employee.
Exit PE is just like any periodic medical evaluations but with focus on exposure and target organ damage that maybe work related, work induced or an occupational illness. Review of the worker's past periodic examinations are very valuable specifically audiogram, PFT and other documented procedures done within the workers stay with the company. Also, the review of the medical records to document the frequency and severity of an specific illness from work is very valuable. Frequently these are used by employers to document that the employee has suffered no adverse health effects from employment or to establish the extent of any such effects.
The Exit examination is also recommended in the Occupational Health and Safety Standards of DOLE. But despite these requirements, exit or termination examinations are the least common occupational examinations that are being done. In my experience as an OccMed Specialist -employees often leave employment before an exit examination can be scheduled. For some it would be just moot and academic but for an OccMed Practitioner it is vital -for we are entrusted to take care of the health of the workers by ensuring that the exiting employee is in tip top health before finally leaving work or must be given just compensation for the illnesses that he/she gained through the course of his/her employment.
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The author is a diplomate of the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM). PCOM is an accredited Occupational Health and Safety Organization of the Bureau of Working Conditions of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), a subspecialty society under the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). PCOM is also affiliated with the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and the Asian Association of Occupational Health (AAOH).
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