Merck's Health Services Programs include health education and health promotion, treatment and rehabilitation of work-related conditions, preventive occupational health programs, minor acute episodic care, disability management, and disease management programs.
To learn about specific programs, click on the links below.
- Occupational Health
- Work-related injury/illness management
- Disability Management
- Business travel program
- Reproductive health and pregnancy
- Acute episodic health care
- Voluntary Immunization Program
- Other specialized screening programs]
- Health education and awareness programs - preventive counseling
- Health Alliance Wellness Centers
Occupational health
Our occupational health programs include:
- the assessment of potential workplace hazards (chemical, biological and physical);
- the prevention of adverse health effects from these hazards;
- the evaluation of an employee's capability to perform job tasks; and
- the treatment and rehabilitation of employees who become injured or ill in the performance of their job.
As a global organization, the Company has many different operating divisions and work assignments - each with its own specific range of physical and mental requirements. Particular work assignments may involve potential exposure to one or more environmental hazards, such as noise, mixtures of chemicals, and work with biological compounds. The Company maintains a continuing and concerted effort to control all environmental hazards and to ensure that each employee's work assignment is safe and consistent with his or her capabilities. Occupational health programs are developed and implemented based on identified health risks.
Current targeted occupational health programs include:
- Pre-Assignment Evaluations
- Respiratory Protection
- Hearing Conservation
- Ergonomics and Manual Lifting Programs
- Powered Industrial Trucks
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Video Display Terminals
- Animal Handler and Zoonotic Disease Programs
Work-related injury/illness management
Merck Health Services professionals are clinically skilled and dedicated to providing efficient and effective quality health care for employees who become injured or ill as a result of their work. We advise on and coordinate health care with providers or agencies to ensure a smooth and uncomplicated treatment and recovery process, while ensuring compliance with both Company and regulatory record-keeping requirements.
Disability management
Our Health Services staff provide expertise in the development of disability management and return-to-work policies. Through a therapeutic alliance with the employee and his/her personal physician, our staff counsels the employee and coordinates care and access to appropriate medical treatment. The Health Services professional's understanding and knowledge of the Company's business operations helps to enable the early return of the employee to a safe and productive work environment.
Business travel program
The Company is concerned about the health and safety of its employees who travel on business, especially to international locations. Health Services maintains up-to-date information regarding infectious diseases prevalent in all countries and required immunizations. Business travelers are given information on health conditions in the country of their destination along with a traveler's guide, a travel kit containing over-the-counter medications they may need while traveling, any required immunizations, and an international emergency travel assistance card. Employees may also consult with the Health Services physician for any prescription medications that may be needed during travel, counseling on preventive medical care prior to departure, availability of medical care in country of destination, and medical care after return as needed.
Reproductive health and pregnancy
We monitor and counsel pregnant employees and employees contemplating pregnancy in assessing potential reproductive health risks. This includes coordination with the supervisor, toxicology, safety and industrial hygiene staff, the employee and his/her physician.
Acute episodic health care
Most site Health Services provide non-work-related acute episodic health care, including the diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, health maintenance counseling, appropriate referral to specialty services and coordinated monitoring of chronic disease with secondary or tertiary providers.
Voluntary Immunization Program
More adults die each year than children from vaccine-preventable diseases. Such diseases include pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, tetanus and other preventable diseases. In 1993 Merck announced a cooperative effort to provide Merck's vaccines for employees through the Voluntary Vaccination Program. Health Services professionals provide employees with information concerning vaccines and the diseases associated with the vaccines along with advice about the benefits as well as the risks of the vaccination. A medical evaluation is completed to determine whether vaccination is medically appropriate. The vaccines are administered at no expense to employees. Influenza immunizations are added to this program each fall.
Other specialized screening programs
Cardiovascular risk reduction and cancer prevention/detection are the areas of major focus in the specialized health screening programs offered. Programs include periodic screenings for hypertension, high serum cholesterol, obesity/body fat composition, and educational offerings on behavioral risk factors such as smoking, dietary fat and cholesterol intake, and inadequate physical activity. Cancer prevention/detection programs are also offered and include smoking cessation along with screening for breast and colon cancer. Appropriate follow-up, counseling and coordination with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the findings and the needs of the employee.
Health education and awareness programs - preventive counseling
Health promotion is provided to further the general good health of employees. Programs include a broad spectrum of activities from individual health counseling at the time of an examination or a clinic visit to educational seminars, health fairs, walking contests, fitness challenges, cholesterol screenings and counseling for emotional and family problems.
Health Alliance Wellness Centers
At some of our sites, Health and Wellness Centers (i.e., fitness centers) are available to employees, retirees and spouses. Professional fitness managers organize programs and events to encourage employees to eat well, manage their weight, exercise and participate in various fitness challenges. Acting in partnership with Merck's Health Services Unit, the centers offer advice and programs extending well beyond physical fitness. For example, the centers have sponsored lunchtime services on back pain, stress management, hormone therapy, breast cancer and arthritis.
To learn more about Merck's Employee Programs and Benefits, click on the links below:
