The Houston Area Safety Council (HASC) has long been a provider of safety training and limited occupational testing but not medical services — until now. HASC’s Occupational Health Center opened May 20 with Dr. Thomas Hysler at the helm as chief medical officer. BIC recently visited with Dr. Hysler to discuss the center.
Q: What led to your position at HASC?
A: When the board of directors voted to approve the medical program, our president and CEO, Luis Aguilar, began the search for someone to lead this massive endeavor. They knew they wanted a physician board certified in occupational medicine since this would be a 100-percent occupational medical clinic.
I was born and raised in the Houston Ship Channel area and completed my occupational medicine residency at the University of Texas in the Houston Medical Center, so I could think of no better region to serve and assist in the local industry.
Q: What is the biggest news at HASC right now?
A: The expansion of our campus and additional services. On May 20, we opened our new 17,000-square-foot Occupational Health Center adjacent to our main training center. The health center expands upon already offered services such as pre-employment testing, drug testing, physical examinations, travel medicine and 24-hour injury care.
Additionally, we have custom designed a fleet of mobile medical coaches capable of providing on-site medical services, as well as computer-based and instructor-led safety training. We realize our clients’ jobsites may not be accessible to our Houston-based facilities, and thus we are striving to bring those services to them.
Q: What is the most important part of your position?
A: Upholding the integrity of HASC by way of the health services. As occupational medicine specialists and safety educators, we are the frontline gate checks for the well-being of the workforce.
The specialty of occupational medicine is like any other board-eligible field such as cardiology or surgery, in that you must have successfully completed a residency in that specific specialty and then pass a rigorous board certification examination. The number of board-certified occupational medicine physicians in the U.S. is limited, and those who do hold this credential are most often utilized in large corporations such as ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell Oil. HASC takes pride in offering the best training, technology and qualified personnel to its customers, and the medical services program is no different.
Q: What are your goals for your position?
A: To look to the future and search for growth opportunities. Our customers are constantly requesting our services all over the U.S., and I believe the sky is the limit. Our clients are desperate for accessible and competent medical services not only with pre-employment screening but also in regard to proper injury care that is both sound and OSHA sensitive. I want the industry to feel confident HASC is not only a resource for safety training but also a leader in the field of occupational medicine.
Q: Are you looking to grow in new markets or expand in current ones?
A: It is often difficult for employers to find quality occupational medical facilities around jobsites. Because of the lack of resources, companies are at the mercy of whatever local clinic is around, regardless of credentials or specialty. Without the proper knowledge of OSHA standards and understanding of the treatment of occupational injury and disease, both the employer and patient risk outcomes that are not appropriate.
I foresee HASC occupational health centers expanding outside of the Houston area and into locations our members have requested for years.
For more information, visit www.hasc.com or call (888) 955-SAFE [7233].
