Integrating Occupational Health and Primary Care for Manufacturers

Manufacturing employers work hard to keep their teams safe and take clear steps to prevent injuries on the job. Manufacturing work and physical labor have increased levels of danger, and workers in manufacturing often lift, bend, or perform the same motions repeatedly, which can wear down the body over time. Add in slippery or uneven floors, and the risk of accidents goes up fast.

Many manufacturers already see big wins from offering advanced primary care (APC) through on-site or nearsite health centers. Now, more of them are taking it a step further by integrating occupational health into their care strategy. It’s a smart move that helps catch and treat workplace injuries early, keeping employees healthy and operations running smoothly. 

Better Continuity of Care

Occ health and primary care integration improves continuity of care by creating a seamless experience for employees. When both services work together, providers can share medical histories, treatment plans, and workplace injury details in real time. This means employees don’t have to repeat their story or bounce between disconnected providers.

Combining occupational health and primary care also helps clinicians see the full picture on how an injury, chronic condition, or job-related stress impacts overall health. With better communication and coordination, employees get more effective treatment and personalized support that takes their work environment into account.

Ultimately, the continuity of care helps manufacturing employees recover faster, stay healthier long-term, and feel supported both on and off the job.

Cross-referrals Between APC and Occ Health

Cross-referring occupational health with advanced primary care gives employees more comprehensive care. When providers from both areas work collaboratively, they can more effectively connect the dots between work-related risks and overall health conditions.

For example, if a primary care provider knows an employee works with heavy machinery or performs repetitive tasks, they can screen for early signs of strain or injury. At the same time, an occupational health provider who has access to a patient’s medical history can recommend safer work practices or accommodations based on existing conditions.

Offering occupational health can also increase engagement with existing primary care benefits. Many workers are already skeptical of health services and may skip on routine or preventive care entirely. But a work-related injury or other required occupational health visit can serve as the first touch point for employees to learn about all of their options.

For instance, employees may not realize they already have access to same-day appointments, mental health support, and free medications. When an occupational health provider spots a condition like unmanaged diabetes or high blood pressure, they can step in immediately, explain the available resources, connect the employee with a primary care physician, and introduce a health coach to help manage the condition moving forward.

This cross-specialty teamwork helps to uncover issues early, prevent long-term complications, and tailor treatment plans to fit both the employee’s health needs and job demands.

Check out this blog to learn more about how primary care can help manufacturers.

Improved Workplace Health and Safety Metrics

Offering occupational health and advanced primary care creates a stronger, more supportive health system for manufacturing employees. Together, these services help prevent injuries, manage chronic conditions, and promote overall well-being while keeping the unique demands of manufacturing work in mind.

By integrating WorkSafe™ with Marathon Health's advanced primary care model, employers can achieve better health outcomes by addressing both occupational and general health needs. The program offers ergonomic evaluations, job-specific functional testing, and work-related physical exams such as pre-employment, return-to-work, and fit-for-duty assessments. Included dashboards provide manufacturers with data showing utilization, diagnoses, and patient satisfaction, while also supporting OSHA reporting and claims management.​

Of the Marathon Health clients who offer WorkSafe™, they’ve seen a nearly 90% drop in opioid usage, a more than 30% reduction in advanced imaging, and a 15% reduction in costly ER visits. Additionally, Marathon Health data shows 67% of employees who actively engage with advanced primary care improve at least one biometric marker.

Advanced primary care and occupational health also work together to lower employer healthcare costs. On average, employers save $1,800 per year for every employee who uses Marathon Health. At the same time, employees benefit from a 17% drop in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Occ Health and Primary Care for Manufacturers

When it comes to manufacturing, keeping workers healthy and safe isn’t just a nice-to-have benefit, it’s a business necessity. By integrating occupational health with advanced primary care, manufacturers can take a proactive approach to employee well-being. And when care teams work together and understand both the medical and workplace sides of employee health, everyone benefits.