Keeping Our Workforce Healthy and Safe
Occupational health is not just injury treatment — it is proactive workforce care that benefits employees, employers and the broader community.
Keeping a workforce healthy and safe takes more than treating injuries after they happen. At Door County Medical Center (DCMC), the Occupational Health team works with local employers to prevent workplace injuries, guides recovery and helps employees safely return to work.
Occupational Health is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to maintaining and promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of workers.
It focuses on preventing workplace injuries and illnesses, managing work-related hazards, and ensuring a safe, productive environment.
The team at Door County Medical Center works closely with our community's employers of all sizes and industries to identify workplace hazards, prevent injuries and promote the wellbeing of employees.
Meet the Team
Richard Milewicz, PA-C leads the Occupational Health team at DCMC. He has been in the field of Occupational Health for about 7 years. Previously, he spent about 22 years as a Physician Assistant (PA) with previous positions in Hematology/Medical Oncology, Family Medicine and Psychiatry.
Milewicz is confident that his military career in the Marines made him uniquely qualified for his role in occupational health. The role requires a comprehensive and intimate understanding of policies and procedures related to workplace health and safety that is unique to the field.
He served in the Marine Corps during the first Gulf War. He was assigned to a Security Forces where he was responsible for hostage rescue, anti-terrorrism, backing up military police and securing US/NATO facilities. It was fast-paced, very detailed and he had to anticipate every possible situation.
It was through this experience that he not only realized that he thrived in a fast-paced and engaging environment, but developed a set of skills that would uniquely serve well in a medical environment.
Now, his days are fast-paced and highly detail-driven. He enjoys problem solving and gets extreme satisfaction from seeing someone through the process and getting them back to work with confidence that the injury won’t happen again. With problem solving, attention to detail, and anticipating problems ahead of time, he has met and exceeded client expectations.
“With my patients, I try to make a difference in their health and wellbeing. Sometimes it’s not just physical, it’s mental and spiritual. Fear and anxiety come up and I am honored that I’m there to help them through it,” shares Milewicz. He continues, “I want to help ease your mind so you have less to carry on your way out.”
Milewicz and his wife have three daughters that attend Southern Door High School. On his team is Danny Nacatwey, LPN who is working toward her registered nursing degree.
A Vital and Unique Role
In most cases, Milewicz and the Occupational Health Team honor a contract with local employers who care about the safety and wellbeing of their employees.
Occupational health providers must balance the needs of employees, employers and insurance requirements. While they must always prioritize health and safety, the goals for each stakeholder may be different and even conflicting.
For example, one employee may have suffered an injury on the job, but is anxious to get back to work quickly for personal reasons. It’s Milewicz job to determine whether the employee can go back based on:
- Whether the injury is fully healed or manageable
- Whether the workplace issue that caused the injury has been addressed
- Whether all OSHA, insurance and regulatory requirements have been met
Or, on the other hand, an employer may have an employee out and the employer is anxious for them to get back to work. In that case Milewicz must advocate for the health of that employee.
Ultimately, Milewicz must always stand on the side of health and safety.
Milewicz’s role is not limited to office visits. He visits Hatco and TTX on a regular basis. He works closely with primary care providers at DCMC and consults regularly with DCMC partners at Prevea.
Comprehensive Workplace Health Services
The Occupational Health team at DCMC offers a mix of preventative care and clinical treatment which includes but is not limited to:
- Routine physical examinations (including DOT, FAA and pre-placement testing)
- Drug and alcohol screenings
- Hearing and vision tests
- Treatment of workplace injuries (Worker Comp)
- Return-to-work evaluations
- Tuberculosis testing
- Merchant Marine exams
- Commercial Driver’s license (CDL) exams (DOT/Fed Med)
- Wisconsin School Bus Examinations
They make sure that employees and coworkers are safe to perform their job or if accommodations are needed to be safe. They help establish work restrictions to help companies maintain safe and productive workplaces.
Milewicz and his team are intimately familiar with OSHA 300 Reporting Compliance regulations and FMLA and help to guide internal human resources and safety teams through the processes.
The team works with large companies in their hiring process, annual physicals, screenings and injury and safety management. Additionally, they work with individuals and self-employed people from landscapers to boat captains.
While it is not always an employee’s favorite thing about the job, most often they recognize that the screenings are the most comprehensive health evaluation they have ever had and there’s power in the knowledge they gain from their examinations.
Preventative Care for Companies
“Occupational health is like preventative care for companies. It saves employers from losing productivity, helps avoid issues down the road and helps employers make informed hiring decisions,” shares Luke Spude, Director of Finance at DCMC.
When employers partner with DCMC’s Occupational Health team, they ensure that the right care will happen at the right time and that all regulations will be followed. Ultimately, working with occupational health is a proactive health and safety management that benefits employees, employers and the broader community.
To learn more about DCMC Occupational Health services or workplace partnerships, call 920-743-0530 or visit our Occupational Health webpage.
